Stunning new Passivhaus council homes unveiled in Exeter
Published: 17 December 2020
We are very proud to announce that we have taken ownership of nine stunning new low-energy homes in Whipton.
The new council houses have all been built to the exceptionally low-energy Passivhaus standard, helping to cut carbon emissions in the city while reducing fuel poverty for residents.
The homes, in Hockings Green, Thornpark Rise, have been built by the council’s own development company Exeter City Living.
Council Leader Phil Bialyk, who inspected the new properties together with Cllr Laura Wright, Lead Councillor for Council Housing Development & Services, said he was delighted with the new homes.
He said: “This is an important development for Exeter which has been built by our housing development company. This is the first of many. We have plans to create over 500 over the next five years in Exeter.
“These homes are environmentally-friendly and drastically cut fuel bills for residents, which is so important to many families suffering fuel poverty in Exeter. We want other developers in Exeter to follow us and build new homes to this standard.”
The first tenants are expected to move into the new homes early in the New Year.
Cllr Wright said the stunning new properties are part of the Council’s ambitious plans to create many more quality new council houses in the coming years. Exeter is one of only a few local authorities in the country building new council houses.
Cllr Wright said: “We are so excited with these new homes. The quality is exceptional. They are in a beautiful spot and we are so proud of our social housing ambition in Exeter.
“It is about place-making – creating great neighbourhoods. The quality of these houses is so high, the gardens are great and I can’t wait for the day – which will be very soon - when we hand over the keys to families.”
Bindu Arjoon, Director for City Development, Housing and Supporting People, said: “This is part of the City Council’s ongoing work across our services to meet the need for affordable and other types of housing in the city.”
Emma Osmundsen, of Exeter City Living, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have created these low-energy, high-performing Passivhaus homes on behalf of the council, and look forward to the first residents moving in.
“We are pioneering Passivhaus building here in Exeter, which is so important. We have to decarbonise our economy and we need homes that are fit for purpose, that are affordable to heat, that are comfortable and healthy.
“We know residents love living in Passivhaus homes, and we are very proud to hand over the keys of this amazing development to the city council.”