Member Article

Sustainable housing pilot project launched in Northumberland

Space Group and Arch Homes have unveiled a ground-breaking development of four homes in Blyth, Northumberland that will provide residents with sustainable homes that cost nothing extra to heat and power.

The pilot project commissioned by Arch, the Northumberland Development Company, follows research revealing 77,000 North East families have experienced energy debt. It comprises four Swedish-inspired homes designed and built by North East architecture and technology business Space Group.

The homes, which comply with ‘zero carbon’ standards, will be let to tenants on the basis of no additional energy bills, with the houses’ minimal heat and power demands offset by renewable energy technologies and included within residents’ monthly rent.

The included state-of-the-art equipment features Nest, a ‘thinking thermostat’ that knows when the home is empty and monitors energy use by sending updates to a smart phone or tablet. It also boasts the ability to control wireless lighting that can be connected through Wi-Fi to the user’s music playlist, Netflix or Twitter.

Space Group CEO Rob Charlton said: “The Spacehus home is intended to be a low waste, zero energy and zero bills building approach and we feel the launch of this first development is particularly timely due to recent reports on energy debt and fuel poverty.

“There’s been a lot of talk around energy companies failing to pass on lower costs to their customers, and this provides an affordable alternative for the region’s families and young working professionals.

“The aim is to take this model and apply it nationally which is a really exciting prospect for us.”

Space Group used sustainable, high quality materials for the development and Building Information Modelling (BIM) was integrated throughout the process from design to build.

The Spacehus dwellings, which promote open-plan living and wi-fi connection as standard alongside other utilities within the monthly tenancy fee, are two and three bed.

Arch, The Northumberland Development Company which is wholly-owned by Northumberland County Council, commissioned Space Group on the energy-saving venture.

The development called Valleydale Mews was unveiled this week at Brierly Road, Blyth by Cllr Grant Davey Leader of Northumberland County Council, Peter McIntyre ArchGroup Managing Director and Space Group CEO Rob Charlton.

Cllr Davey said: “I am extremely impressed by the quality of these new homes, and particularly by the energy saving features. We are all looking for ways to manage our energy and waste more smartly, and to reduce bills, so it is great to be able to offer the opportunity for Northumberland residents to live in a zero carbon home.”

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