Open Day for Seend’s new eco homes

A COMMUNITY-led affordable housing partnership is due to complete a 10-affordable passive house project in Seend later this year and there will be an open day this month for those wanting to learn more about the project.

A partnership between Seend Community Land and Asset Trust, White Horse Housing Association and Homes of Our Own has taken just four years to bring this innovative low energy housing project to life.

A spokesperson said, “On Monday 20th February from 09.30am to 2.30pm, the community homes partnership is holding an on-site open day at Hook Hollow, Seend Cleeve SN12 6PX, for people interested in this type of low energy housing, built using modern methods of construction.

“There will be an opportunity to learn about the homes, the PH15 passive house system, and to visit the site on a conducted tour to see work in progress. Booking is essential for this event as individual timed tours will be limited to 12 persons per group on the active building site. Personal protective equipment will be provided.

“The homes, comprising five 2-bed, three 3-bed and two 1-bed units, are being built to the highly insulated, low energy specification widely known as passive housing. Comparatively low energy costs, innovative design and modern methods of construction are features of this development, designed by PKA Architects of Potterne, Wiltshire.

“This affordable rental and shared ownership mix of homes, manufactured off-site by PH Homes using their PH15 Passivhaus certified system, is being built under large hangar-like shelters, enabling the construction contractor, Winsley White, to continue work during adverse weather.”

The homes are due for completion in Sept. 2023.

The spokesperson added, “Seend is a high-cost housing area where, historically, many housing association homes in the parish have been lost through the right-to-buy scheme legacy, making it hard for local people to find appropriate accommodation. Seend Cleeve’s new homes will be available to local people for rent under the Homes4Wiltshire and shared ownership Help to Buy systems.”

To reserve a place for the open day email, info@whitehorsehousing.co.uk or call White Horse Housing on 01380 850916. There will be a second open day in September, just before the homes are handed over to residents.

Steven Vaux chair of Seend Community Land and Asset Trust said, “We believe this modest, sustainable, affordable homes project is a fine example of what can be achieved by communities using the powers granted to them under the Localism Act 2011. We know there are many similar projects in the community-led housing pipeline across Wiltshire and the South West. Our successful partnership has shown that even small communities like Seend really can do it for themselves.”

White Horse Housing chief executive, Steve Warran said, “The delivery of these affordable homes for local people is an exceptional achievement for White Horse Housing. It is our first venture into providing super-efficient and sustainable ‘passive-haus’ homes that ensure residents have affordable heating, lighting, hot water and cooking, in a time when the cost-of-living crisis is widely affecting our residents.”

Wiltshire Community Land Trust chair Trevor Cherrett said, “Huge congratulations to Seend Community Land & Asset Trust for achieving this landmark housing project. Seend CLAT has shown so well how communities themselves can successfully deliver low energy affordable homes for local people. As promoters and supporters of Community Land Trusts in Wiltshire and Swindon, the Wiltshire Community Land Trust hopes that this will be the first of many such projects across our area.”

Wiltshire Council cabinet member for housing, cllr Phil Alford said, “We are very proud to have supported this development; firstly, through our involvement with Homes of Our Own (partnership between Wiltshire Council, Wiltshire Community Land Trust and Community First) and secondly with a financial investment to enable the project to come forward.

“It is exciting to see this ground-breaking development coming to fruition and we look forward to seeing local families moving in. Providing zero carbon homes is an ambition for the council and these homes will be truly efficient and subsequently of very low energy costs to the residents.”