Eco-friendly, affordable homes now open

Published by Lizzie Murrie for Quicksilver PR in Housing and also in Communities, Environment, Health, Local Government

Eight of eighteen affordable and eco-friendly family homes, built on land that has lain waste for years, were unveiled on Tuesday.

The two and three bedroom homes, in Whiteford Drive, were commissioned by Leicester-based social housing group LHA-ASRA, after Kettering Borough Council provided a section of unused allotments for the development.

The innovative properties are built to one of the highest ‘green’ standards - Level Five of the Government’s Code for Sustainable Homes – by Loughborough-based contractor and developer William Davis Ltd.

The roofs of the new homes encompass photovoltaic solar panels and the construction benefits from extra thick loft and cavity wall insulation.

Franklin Ellis Architects designed the properties and Andy Dowding, from the Nottingham-based firm, said: “Installation of the photovoltaic panel’s provide residents with subsidised electricity and the level of roof and wall insulation will increase energy efficiency and reduce energy costs.”

Michele Walker, programme delivery manager at LHA-ASRA, said: “Transforming disused land into affordable family homes is a real boost for the area and constructing homes with sustainability in mind provides a pleasant and a healthy place to live.

“By incorporating eco-friendly elements into the build and constructing for adaptability in future years, we have brought some very real long-term benefits to residents, for example more natural light in the homes and lower energy costs.”

Richard Cornes, partnerships director, William Davis said: “The development of sustainable homes is at the forefront of everyone’s mind and the new houses on Whiteford Drive are a fine example of eco-efficient construction in the affordable housing arena.

“Together with LHA-ASRA and all the partners involved in this project, we have produced a scheme that everyone can be extremely proud of and proves that incorporating ‘green solutions’ need not impinge on modern family living.”

A rainwater harvesting system is also installed; this collects and stores rainwater to be re-used domestically.

All of the properties are equipped with recycling bins and composting facilities for kitchen waste.

Whiteford Drive also embraces the bigger ‘eco-picture’, with the installation of bird and bug boxes, as well as a reptile refuge to provide shelter for amphibians in the nearby brook.

The remaining ten properties on the site are due for completion in July 2011.