Development project marks 'landmark moment' in net-zero offer

A new development project will introduce the first net-zero carbon homes to Teesside, raising standards for sustainable housing in the region.

Award-winning North of England contractor Esh Construction is building 10 energy-efficient homes for Thirteen Group as part of the £18 million Kedward Avenue development in Middlesbrough.

The project, one of three sites Esh is delivering for Thirteen Group in Middlesbrough, includes four bungalows and six semi-detached houses, equipped with enhanced insulation, air source heat pumps, and mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) systems.

Mark Binns, operations director for Esh’s affordable housing division, said: “It is a landmark moment for Esh Construction and Thirteen Group to be providing the net-zero offer.

“The project marks a significant step forward in sustainable construction and underlines a shared commitment to delivering future-proofed and energy efficient homes.

“These 10 properties won’t use gas, instead the MVHR system, and an air source hot water cylinder will be used to suck air into the properties, while photovoltaic solar panels and electric vehicle charging units will support the energy efficient home management plans.”

These homes, rigorously tested to meet high energy standards, are part of a larger 105-home development where Esh has incorporated additional insulation and structural adaptations to achieve net-zero readiness.

Joy Whinnerah, Thirteen Group’s executive director of development and partnerships, added: “We’ve made a firm commitment to becoming a net-zero organisation by 2050 and we know we need to innovate and invest to achieve that.

“Use of this kind of technology in our homes can be a key part of our net-zero roadmap.

“We’ll be monitoring the performance of these homes very closely so we can learn as much as possible about the effectiveness of the various net zero features and then apply that learning to future development.”

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