Greenfields Community Housing celebrates new homes with a topping out ceremony

Published by Donata Rio for Greenfields Community Housing in Housing

Essex-based Greenfields Community Housing celebrated the completion of

the highest part of five new, affordable homes being built with a topping out

ceremony at the end of October.

The homes are expected to be completed in early 2013. Staff, residents, Board

members and contractors gathered to celebrate the nearly finished homes with a

traditional topping out ceremony.

As well as consulting with local residents about building the new homes,

Greenfields also consulted more widely with the Parish Council, councillors and

other stakeholders before applying for and obtaining planning permission from

the local District Council.

Peter Cook, Head of Regeneration and Development at Greenfields said: “Building

new homes is a promise that we have made to our residents and remains one of

our main priorities. The construction of new homes is helping boost the economy

and create growth in the area, by providing jobs and apprenticeships. We look

forward to providing much-needed affordable homes in the district and can’t wait

to see the residents' faces when we hand over the keys and they move into their

new homes”.

The homes are being built to enhanced Code 4 and include renewable

technologies such as air-to-water heat pumps (converts outside air to heat,

which is pumped around the central heating system and provides hot water) and

photovoltaic panels on the roofs.

Greenfields, which has approximately 8,000 tenanted homes and 450 leasehold

properties across the Braintree District, will continue to expand its number of

affordable homes over the next few years.