Work begins to create dozens of new low energy council homes in Exeter
Published: 16 March 2023
Work is about to start on a scheme to build dozens of new ultra low energy council homes for residents in Exeter.
The first phase of the scheme in Vaughan Road, Whipton, will create 35 new Passivhaus homes for people in housing need in the city.
The development is a mix of one and two bedroom apartments for older people and includes a community room for the use of all of tenants.
Eventually the three phases of the development will deliver 91 new homes.
The completed scheme features a high quality landscaping for the use of all residents of the scheme and the introduction of car club bikes and cars for all of the community to use.
The Council’s Housing Team has set a target of delivering 500 new Council homes for the city between 2020 and 2030, and this scheme will contribute towards meeting that target.
Council Leader Cllr Phil Bialyk said: “I couldn’t be more pleased that this scheme is now getting underway. We’ve waited a long time to get this far and it’s great that we are creating low energy homes for older people which will lower costs to run them and help cut our carbon footprint.
“Exeter badly needs more affordable homes to rent and the Council is leading the way in developing the highest quality accommodation for the benefit of residents in the city.”
The first phase of development is expected to be completed and ready for occupation in late 2024. The second and third phases of the development are expected to start on site later this year.
The site is being developed by Exeter City Living, the Council-owned development company, and the main contractor is Classic Builder (South West).
Cllr Barbara Denning, Lead Councillor for Council Housing, said: “We all know that more high quality, affordable accommodation is very much needed in Exeter and I cannot wait for the first council tenants to move into this fantastic accommodation.
“The running costs will be very low because the accommodation is being built to the very high quality Passivhaus standard, and that will be excellent news for the tenants.
“I am very proud of the fact that we are creating top quality new council housing for the people of Exeter.”
Passivhaus is a low energy building standard which helps tenants out of fuel poverty by reducing heating bills and creates a stable, draft free and healthy environment for people to live in.
The building are healthy with no harmful chemicals or products used in construction.
The Council has declared a climate emergency and outlined its ambitions for net zero – these new properties will help contribute towards that ambition due to their low energy nature.
The Council’s Housing Team have so far delivered schemes at Edwards Court, Bovemoors Lane, Hockings Green and has a new scheme on site at Hamlin Gardens – these scheme have delivered 96 new homes towards the overall target of 500.
- Other consultants working on the Vaughan Road development are architects Childs & Sulzmann, landscape architect Roundfield, civils and structural engineers Clarke Bond, M&E engineers SDS and quantity surveyor Randall Simmonds.