New homes unveiled by council ‘will cut energy bills, tackle emissions and support local businesses’

New homes in Lancaster developed by the city council, with contracts for local architects and builders, are some of the UK’s most energy efficient and will help cut utility bills and emissions, supporters say.

The properties at Alder Grove, Lancaster, replace a previous unsafe house, Lancaster City Council said. There are four one-bedroom flats, a manager’s office and a community room.

The homes are designed to meet the new 2025 Future Homes Standard. This uses building materials, heating systems, insulation, doors, windows and lay-out to boost energy efficiency and cut the use of fossil fuels, such as gas or oil.

With an Energy Performance Certificate rating of A, the homes include the maximum number of solar panels allowed on the site, with the solar energy shared across the four homes. Other energy-saving features include electric vehicle charging points and storage heaters.

Lancaster City Council said it is the first local authority in the north-west region to have used the Etopia Modern Methods of Construction approach, which offers value for money against delivery time-scales.

Coun Caroline Jackson, the city council leader with a housing remit on the cabinet, said: “Residents will enjoy warmer, more-affordable homes, while we continue to tackle the climate emergency and move closer to our net zero ambitions. The housing team is to be congratulated for its imaginative approach to this site. This project was ground-breaking in its approach to construction and provided efficiency and speed with resources and quality.”

The development was supported by £236,000 from Homes England, a government body which works with councils on housing and land development or regeneration schemes.

Lee Donner of Caton-based Mason Gillibrand Architects said: “Despite a tricky, tight site and working hard to accommodate existing mature trees, the new building is smart and contemporary with modern, open-plan living spaces.

“It is really encouraging to see that, despite a difficult financial climate, local authorities can build great new homes, using highly-skilled local tradespeople.”

New homes, old council housing, local renewable energy and climate change issues are key political and debating topics at Lancaster City Council, which is Green Party-led with a cross-party cabinet including Lib-Dem and Morecambe Bay Independent councillors.

Lancaster’s 1960s Mainway  estate and the former Skerton High School site are earmarked for developments. But there has also been some public protests over the sale or ownership of ex-council flats, and recent questions from Labour councillors about progress in a potential further bid for more Homes England funding.