Broadland Housing Gets European Eco-home Funding

Published by Chris A for Broadland Housing Association Ltd in Housing and also in Central Government

Broadland Housing Association (BHA) has been awarded £518,605 of European funding to turn 11 houses across Norwich into eco-homes of the future.

The existing houses, which will be at four sites across the city, will we be renovated using the latest state-of-art environmental housing methods, and once completed will be used as examples of best practice for Social Housing developments across the region.

BHA has become the first Housing Association in the East of England to achieve European Regional Development Funding (ERDF) to deliver this type of project, and has been given a brief to be as innovative as possible in the renovation process.

“We are delighted to have secured this funding,” said Andrew Savage, Director of Business Growth at Broadland Housing Association. “With fuel prices rising, and the continuing threat of global warming, it is essential the construction industry finds ways of improving energy efficiency in existing and new homes.

“What’s really interesting about this project is that we aren’t simply talking about ground/air source heat pumps or solar panels – which are now readily used in New Build and Green Retro-fit projects – but technology that’s at the cutting edge for refurbishing existing houses. This will include looking at the fabric of the housing, as if this isn’t effective all the energy savings you might achieve are lost through the building roof and walls. Also, each property will have a bespoke solution, enabling us to learn more by monitoring the success of a diverse range of new systems.”

“We are currently talking to ERDF about our plans for the homes, and hope to be able to announce some of the technology we’ll be using in the next few months, with our overall aim to complete the building phase of the project by September 2011.”

“The ERDF programme in the region is all about supporting low carbon economic growth and we are delighted to have been able to award the funding to Broadland Housing Association,” said David Morrall, International Director for the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), who are responsible for delivering the funding in the region. “Social Housing is a key part of the region’s housing stock, and finding new, innovate ways of making peoples’ homes more green will not only benefit the residents but will also stimulate the growth of eco-technology.”

For more information on Broadland Housing Association visit www.broadlandhousing.org or call 0303 303 0003.