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Local people ready to move into affordable eco-homes homes in Bearley

bearley affordable homes 05.07.22

During Rural Housing Week 2022, we were delighted to show off Warwickshire Rural Housing Association's new affordable Beattie Passive homes in Bearley, which will soon be home to local people.

We were joined by councillors from both Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick District Councils keen to see the future of affordable housing.

As well as providing affordable housing for local people, reinvigorating a brownfield site, AND building eco-friendly homes, the development also employed trainees and graduates from the Stratford-based  New Meaning Training (NMT) programme.

Homes for local people

The seven homes on the scheme, which is named Gwens Grove, after local resident Gwen Smith, who passed away this year aged 101, have all been allocated to local people, who are looking forward to moving in over the summer.

The homes, which are the realisation of a 20-year dream for the village, have been built using the high-performance and low-carbon Beattie Passive construction system.

Arslan Erinmez, Chair of Bearley Parish Council told us what the new homes mean to the village:

“We are very proud of these affordable new homes, which were built on two small brownfield sites.

“They will have a very positive effect on our community, enabling people to downsize and bringing younger people, who’d had to move away, back to live closer to their families.”

And married couple Chloe and Edward know first-hand just what a difference good-quality affordable homes make in rural areas. Chloe, who has lived her whole life in Bearley, and Ed are due to move into their brand new home in the village later this month. They told us:

“We both work full-time, but housing in Bearley is still outside of our price range. We were living in a private rented home but, when the landlord sold it, we couldn’t find anywhere else affordable to live.

“It’s been a very difficult time for us. All our friends and family are in the village, and we work locally and we didn’t want to leave.

“So, since September, we’ve been living with our respective parents, apart from each other. Not how we married life should be!

“When Philippa called to let us know our application had been successful, we were delighted. We’re excited to move in.

“And, the fact that this is a passive home is amazing, as it will help keep our energy bills low.”

Beattie Passive build means low energy bills for residents

Each super-insulated home will also have solar panels and an air source hot water and heating system. This not only supports Stratford-on-Avon’s ambitious zero carbon plans, but will also mean much lower energy costs for the residents.

Students and graduates from New Meaning Training, an inspiring hands-on programme for young people, who didn’t engage with the traditional school system, to learn a trade, get qualifications and earn an independent living, where involved in the construction of the timber super structure.

NMT director, David Lett explained how they were involved: “Trainees and graduates from the New Meaning construction course built the timber superstructure of the passive homes in Bearley. It was a great opportunity to put their new skills into practice.”


Find out more about the new scheme at www.warwickshirerha.org.uk/bearley