Ethos Public Relations Manchester

First green homes for Rochdale

by Ethos public relations

Brighter Horizons, the charitable development subsidiary company of ALMO Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) recently welcomed residents to new ‘green’ homes on Dover St, Rochdale.

Chief Executive of RBH Gareth Swarbrick said: “We are particularly pleased to have completed what is essentially our first new build ‘green scheme’ which has used the latest in sustainable building techniques.”

The company has built six two bedroom bungalows on a disused former play area, supported by £360,000 grant funding from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), Deborah McLaughlin, Regional Director North West of the HCA, said: “We are particularly pleased we have been able to support this scheme which provides affordable homes of high environmental standards.”

Dover St was designed by Pozzoni architects to achieve Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 which includes Insulated Concrete Formwork (ICF) Technology – where twin-walled expanded polystyrene panels are built up to create the walls of the property. This formwork is then filled with ready mix concrete and is quick and easy to build and efficient to run for the householder.

Gareth Swarbrick added: “The sustainable features used in these properties will reduce energy bills for the tenants - and with rising utility prices this is becoming an important element of new build.”

Other features of the homes include a Solar Thermal Hot Water System, Rain Water Harvesting System and restricted water usage system. A Mechanical Ventilation unit with Heat Recovery has been fitted in the loft of each property as well as low energy light fittings in each room.

Councillor Jacqui Beswick, Cabinet member for Performance and Partnerships said: “The Dover Street scheme has brought significant investment into the Rochdale Township and provided much needed new energy efficient bungalow accommodation for rent. The scheme is also an excellent example of partnership working between the Council and RBH to deliver the regeneration of a disused play area site”.

The main contractor on the scheme was Rochdale based Jackson and Jackson and the Employers Agent was Poole Dick Associates.

For more news from RBH click here.

Posted at 12^th August 2011