Eco-friendly homes development premiers in Lancaster village
Deemed open for business, new energy saving homes ‘fit for the 21st century’ have been completed in Halton.
The new homes, known as Lune Walk, are made up of 13 affordable rented and seven shared ownerships houses that are Passivhaus accredited – gold standard for energy efficiency that reduces the buildings’ ecological footprint.
As a result, the properties will generally need 90% less energy for heating and hot water than standard buildings and should achieve very low running costs which are ideal at the moment due to the cost-of-living continuing to climb.
One of the key aspects to this project’s success has been the partnership formed between the local community group Lune Valley Community Land Trust, South Lakes Housing, Lancaster City Council and Homes England, with support from RP Tyson Construction, John Gilbert Architects, R G Parkins and Partners, and Elliot Associates.
Both Homes England and Lancaster City Council have also contributed significant grant funding to the scheme.
Charles Ainger, Chair of Lune Valley Community Land Trust, who cut the ribbon to formally open the Lune Walk development, said: ‘It’s really important to pay attention to the most vulnerable in our society. Providing affordable, low energy, community homes is a win-win, good for people, the planet, and the housing provider.
‘Passivhaus homes are good for health and people don’t get in rent arrears. We see this as a demonstration project. It is the only way to build houses fit for the 21st century.’
Professor Mike Berners-Lee, from Lancaster University, added: ‘We urgently need to build more energy efficient housing less dependent on the care if we are to tackle the many environmental crises facing the world.
‘It is so important to get housing right, this is such a positive development. I would love to be living in a place like this – you can get low energy housing, be able to swim every morning in the river, cycle into your city and have infrastructure on your doorstep.’
For many of the partners involved in the scheme, lune Walk was their first Passivhaus development and delivering the project has been a huge learning curve for how to deliver eco homes.
Image: Tom Morbey