Up, up and away, with Redrow

Thu, Aug 31st 2006, 11:00

One of the UK’s largest housebuilders has taken to the skies. Award winning Redrow has launched its very own hot air balloon, which will make appearances at balloon fiestas all over the UK, as well as offering a new perspective on Redrow homes up and down the country.

The huge red balloon had its first outing at the Westcountry Balloon Fiesta in Devon but is set to grace the skies above England, Scotland and Wales over the coming weeks and months.

Simon Bennett, Redrow’s group marketing director, comments: "The balloon is a great marketing tool. As well as going to ballooning events all over the country, it will be sited at our various developments as often as possible, offering tethered flights for customers who will be able to get a bird’s eye view of our homes.

"Hot air balloons are enormously popular, with fiestas regularly attracting thousands of visitors and the sight of a hot air balloon passing overhead still has the ability to stop most people in their tracks. We are very excited about having our very own balloon and look forward to seeing the Redrow name written across the skies in letters nearly five metres high!"

Redrow’s balloon has been built by Shropshire-based Lindstrand Hot Air Balloons, who have created more than 4,500 hot air balloons, currently operated in 48 different countries. They are also the world’s largest manufacturer of airships and created the largest ever hot air balloon.

Redrow’s balloon holds 105,000 cubic feet (2,973m3) of hot air and its height from the basket to the top of balloon is 21 metres. It can carry a pilot plus four people. More than 850 metres of fabric have been used to create what is known as the ‘envelope’ – enough material to wrap two double decker buses!

The balloon will appear at a number of balloon festivals in 2007, including Bristol Balloon Fiesta, the largest outdoor event in Europe with 110 balloons in attendance, and at Northampton, the second largest balloon festival with 70 balloons taking off.

Back on solid ground, Redrow is building circa 5,000 new homes annually in England, Scotland and Wales, including its innovative first time buyer Debut homes, traditional family housing, contemporary city centre apartments and refurbishments of grade II listed properties. For details of Redrow homes in your area call 0845 676 0500.