Families move into Birmingham’s most eco friendly homes

Families have moved into the West Midlands’ first affordable zero-carbon homes to be completed with government funding as part of a £17.1million regeneration project.

Two of the region’s most environmentally friendly homes are part of the final phase of a 172 home development at Groveley Park in Northfield, Birmingham. The six year project has attracted £8.5m of funding from the Homes & Communities Agency (HCA).

The homes, built on the former Nimmings Farm Estate, will be the first in the West Midlands to achieve the Government’s top environmental rating for new developments using an HCA grant.

The homes reach Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) and have been built by WM Housing Group in partnership with Lovell. The properties will be managed by Harden Housing Association, which is a part of WM Housing Group.

The zero carbon homes will save energy thanks to features such as photovoltaic panels which generate electricity, rainwater recycling for flushing toilets, mechanical ventilation which recycles waste heat from kitchen and bathroom areas, eco-efficient boilers which recycle exhaust heat and improved insulation.

One of the first residents to move into the zero-carbon homes is mother-of-one Kerry Johnson, who has been homeless for seven years.

Thirty-two-year-old Kerry said: “I can’t believe how lucky I have been to get one of these homes. The standard of the home is amazing and I never thought I would have a home like this. I am so excited that my little girl will have her own room.

“The area around Groveley Park is being regenerated so I am going to be close to lots of facilities on my doorstep.

“The eco measures mean that I will be able to recycle water and heat, and there are fresh air vents so there is fresh air circulated in the house which is healthier. All the appliances in my kitchen are A-grade which is more economical. It’s estimated that my energy bills will be around £90 for electricity and £180 for gas per year.”

It is estimated that the Code Level 6 properties will generate a saving of £428 per year, according to a National Home Energy Rating.

The final phase of the regeneration project is being built on a 1.1 hectare site, which was purchased from Birmingham City Council when it was made available following the demolition of outdated council homes in the shadow of the former Rover factory at Longbridge.

This phase will offer 48 affordable homes, which will be available for affordable rent and shared ownership on a part-rent, part-buy basis.

The remaining 46 properties will also have environmentally-friendly features such as high-performance gas boilers, which provide heat depending on the weather conditions, and solar water heating panels. Two of these homes will reach CSH Level 4 and the remaining 44 will reach CSH Level 3.

Development project manager at WM Housing Group Nick Edge said: “These first two zero carbon homes in the West Midlands using an HCA grant are a great example of the future of affordable housing. Not only are we providing high quality housing for residents but we have shown that there are many innovative ways that we can help residents save money and improve their quality of life.

“I am delighted that Kerry is one of the people to benefit from these new homes.”

David Gough, regional director for Lovell Midlands, added: “It has been a real pleasure to be involved in this project, in which we have used innovative technologies and bold thinking to make these two homes the first in the region to reach this level of sustainability.

“The exciting thing is that they look very much like traditional homes, which proves that using this kind of technology doesn’t have to mean compromising on how a house looks.”

Notes to editors

WM Housing Group, based in Bromsgrove, manages approximately 23,500 homes across the West Midlands, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

The group is structured to facilitate local accountability and the provision of high quality local services.

Founded in 1998, the group consists of Whitefriars Housing Group, Harden Housing Association, Nexus Housing, Kemble Housing and Herefordshire Supported Housing for Young People Project (SHYPP).

WM Housing Group is a development partner with the Homes and Communities Agency. It is the lead member of the Spectrum Development Partnership that consists of Advance Housing Association, Bromsgrove District Housing Trust, Central Borders Housing Group, Heantun Housing Association, Herefordshire Housing, Nehemiah UCHA, Stafford and Rural Homes, Severnside Housing and Solihull Community Housing.

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) is the single, national housing and regeneration delivery agency for England. Our vision is to create opportunity for people to live in homes they can afford in places they want to live, by enabling local authorities and communities to deliver the ambition they have for their own areas.

For more information visit www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/newsevent