Housebuilder will create six R&D homes to monitor energy-efficiency technology
The start of work at a £24m housing scheme has been marked, and plans unveiled for the creation of six research and development homes to monitor new technologies.
Guests from Manchester City Council and Homes England joined Your Housing Group’s CEO and group chair to officially open the Edgefield Green housing development in Openshaw, Greater Manchester.
During the event, YHG unveiled plans for the six R&D properties that will be built on the site later this year. They will be built as part of the 216-home development and are part of a pilot scheme to make homes more carbon neutral and reduce utility costs for residents.
The R&D properties will be offered as affordable rent properties in spring 2024.
Once occupied Your Housing Group will be able monitor and maintain the equipment to gather data to review how efficient the measures, such as tripled glazing, air source heat pumps and solar panels, are.
The 216 affordable homes are being built on the site of a former warehouse and are breathing new life into an unused plot of land, creating an attractive, vibrant community for the local area.
The houses are a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments and two-, three- and four-bed houses with a mix of terrace, semi-detached and detached properties with gardens and landscaped green spaces. They are available for mixed tenures including rent-to-buy, shared ownership, social and affordable rent.
The bespoke houses were designed by Edwards Architecture, and the contractor for the site is Lovell Partnership.
Jacque Allen, chief executive for Your Housing Group, said: “It is fantastic to see the work completed so far at Edgefield Green, and share our plans for the R&D homes to help find innovative solutions for the future, that will help both the planet, but also the residents we’re creating more affordable homes for.
“Thanks to the support of Manchester City Council and Homes England, this development has allowed us to transform the site of a disused warehouse into a wonderful, vibrant community for Openshaw. We are passionate about creating safe, quality homes so that communities can thrive. This development is yet another significant step forward in delivering quality affordable homes and helping improve access to housing by offering various affordable tenure types.”
Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and employment, said: “It is wonderful to see this affordable housing development by Your Housing Group come to fruition. Everyone in this city deserves safe, secure and decent homes so every development that comes online that increases the number of homes accessible to our residents should be celebrated.”
The development has been funded through Your Housing Group’s strategic partnership with Homes England.
