New houses mark council's commitment to high-quality homes for all
Winchester City Council’s aim of delivering high-quality homes for all reached a new milestone last month as the ribbon was cut on 12 new houses in North Whiteley.
The homes, built by Drew Smith Ltd, are part of the council’s plan to support local access to good quality affordable homes in the district, with 3 of the properties part of a shared ownership scheme and a further 6 being let as affordable rented properties.
As part of the council’s greener faster ambitions, each of the homes will be highly energy efficient: significant insulation and advanced draft proofing means that the properties will require less energy and cost less to heat, whilst an efficient ventilation system will ensure good air quality without losing warmth.
The homes themselves are also built to the AECB (Association for Environment Conscious Building) standard, which means they are estimated to reduce CO2 emissions by 70% compared to the UK average.
Speaking about the Scheme, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities Cllr Ferguson said:
“We’re very pleased to be unveiling these new high-quality, well-designed, energy efficient homes in North Whiteley today, which form part of our commitment to provide ‘Homes for All” across the district.
“We firmly believe that everyone has the right to be able to access high quality, affordable homes, whether that’s a council home, homes for shared ownership or longer-term more secure rental accommodation. We’re also committed to addressing the climate emergency which is why it’s important all our new homes are built to very high environmental standards. We hope that the families that have already moved in, are already enjoying their many benefits.”
Resident of one of the homes, James Redman (pictured) said:
“My family and I are exceptionally grateful to Winchester City Council. They have provided us with not only a house but a secure home that we can be very proud to call our own. The housing team within Winchester City Council and the Hampshire Home Choice staff will always have my gratitude for their hard work in providing quality homes, for not only me but many people who are in need or at risk of homelessness.”
Philip Farminer, Managing Director at Drew Smith Ltd, said:
“This is a proud moment for Drew Smith to hand over these new homes to Winchester City Council. With energy efficiency at the forefront of the design and build process, these will be fantastic homes which are affordable to run. We are delighted to have been able to support the Council with its commitments to both affordable housing and carbon reduction.”
The council will provide 54 homes in total at the North Whiteley development, making up part of the council’s ambition to provide 1000 new homes in Winchester between 2021 and 2030.
The homes form part of the larger North Whiteley development, which is providing 3,500 homes, as well as two primary schools, a secondary school, retail and community centre and significant highway improvements. One of the 3 shared ownership homes has already been let – information about the other two can be found at www.cobbettgardens.com