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WRHA showcase low-carbon homes during Rural Housing Week 2021

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Warwickshire Rural Housing Association (WRHA) were pleased to share the progress on the affordable, energy-efficient homes in development in Bearley during Rural Housing Week 2021.

Due to be completed in summer 2022, the seven homes are the realisation of a 20-year dream for the village. The mix of houses, bungalows and maisonettes, available for social rent will only be offered to people with a connection to the village, enabling local people to stay in, or return to their community.

During Rural Housing Week, Stratford-on-Avon District Councillors Daren Pemberton and Ian Shenton joined WRHA on site with Arslan Erinmez and Richard Le Page from Bearley Parish Council, Ruth Bagley, Chair of WRHA, officers from Stratford-on-Avon District Council and Warwickshire Rural Community Council, and development partners Harper Group, Orbit Group and Toolshed to see the great work in progress.

In keeping with WRHA’s commitment to improve the environmental efficiency of all their new and existing homes and Stratford’s carbon-neutral ambitions, this development will use the Beattie Passivhaus system. It’s an advanced low energy construction standard which creates buildings with very little environmental impact. It’s efficiency also keeps running costs to a minimum for residents.

WRHA are building on the success of their first affordable Passivhaus development in Wootton Wawen, Warwickshire. Residents moved into their new homes in 2018 and are reaping the benefits of significantly reduced energy bills.

WRHA and development partners the Harper Group, are proud to be working with Toolshed, a social enterprise education provision, on this development. ToolShed provide training and support for students who left school with few to no qualifications and have helped over 138 young people start a career in construction.  The Toolshed team will be managing the construction of the superstructures.

The support and funding provided by Stratford-on-Avon District Council has been invaluable to the success of this pioneering scheme.  Councillor Ian Shenton, Climate Change Portfolio Holder, Stratford-on-Avon District Council, explained how the development aligns with the council’s aims:

“This PassivHaus development is a great example of how we’re working in partnership in Warwickshire to respond to the climate emergency. The low-carbon construction and the innovative energy saving technologies support Stratford-on-Avon’s vision to be one of the UK's first carbon-neutral districts.”

Councillor Daren Pemberton, Portfolio Holder for Place and Economy, Stratford-on-Avon District Council also shared his support:

"We are so pleased to support Warwickshire Rural Housing Association’s innovative development, which will provide high quality, low-carbon, affordable homes for the Bearley community.  It demonstrates just what can be achieved by working closely with the community and creating open and honest partnerships that put our residents and communities centre stage.”

And Councillor Arslan Erinmez, Chair of Bearley Parish Council, explained what these homes mean for the village:

“Bearley Parish Council is delighted that the affordable housing will be constructed to the latest design and ecological standards. It is exciting to see the efforts and perseverance of the Parish Council over the past decade bringing our 20-year dream to a reality.”

David Lett, Co-founder and Operations Director at Toolshed described how they’ll be involved:

“Toolshed will be overseeing the build of the superstructure. The team on site will include trainees and graduates from the Toolshed construction course. Being involved in this build is so important, it provides them with a great opportunity to put their new skills into practice.”

To find out more about these new homes and how to apply, visit: www.warwickshirerha.org.uk/bearley

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