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Residents outside their new homes in Hornhatch
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Home recently celebrated completion of 12 new eco-friendly homes in the picturesque village of Chilworth, near Guildford, Surrey.
All new homes have been installed with solar thermal hot water heating systems showing that Home is leading the way in making renewable energy features part of mainstream affordable housing.
The systems were installed by Eco Energi Ltd. Each property has two solar panels which are designed to reduce hot water costs by 70%. Home ensured that the system is virtually maintenance free, except for changing an anti-freeze mixture inside the panels every five years.
The new properties comprise a mixture of two, three and four bedroom rented houses allocated to local families on the council’s waiting list.
The new homes replace seven former ‘Airey’ prefabricated houses built soon after the Second World War. Guildford Borough Council is working on a programme of replacement for these properties and chose Home to re-develop the scheme at Chilworth, as well as creating new homes on ‘Airey’ sites in nearby West Clandon. Home has also just commenced work on another ‘Airey’ scheme in nearby Send, to create 33 affordable homes for rent as well as through New Build Homebuy and direct sale.
The scheme cost just over £2 million, including substantial funding from the Homes and Communities Agency and Guildford Borough Council. All new properties have been designed to a modern contemporary style with terca facing brick and Juliet balconies offering views over the local green and the Surrey hills.
Sarah Chaudhry, Development Manager, says: “We are delighted to have provided much needed family accommodation in Chilworth. The energy saving features will assist our residents by reducing the amount of energy consumed resulting in low fuel bills. The homes are a good example of how Home is proactively seeking to reduce carbon emissions in our new developments, in accordance with Government targets to reduce green house gases - a contributor to Global Warming.”
