Eco-friendly project nears completion

WORK is nearing completion on a �1.2m eco-friendly housing development that will provide affordable homes for people living in Walpole.The 10 properties are being built on Peasenhall Road and will be available from March next year.

WORK is nearing completion on a �1.2m eco-friendly housing development that will provide affordable homes for people living in Walpole.

The 10 properties are being built on Peasenhall Road and will be available from March next year.

The scheme - developed by Flagship Suffolk Heritage - comprises two one-bedroom flats, two two-bedroom flats, two two-bedroom houses, two three-bedroom houses and two two-bedroom earth-sheltered bungalows, all for affordable rent.

The homes are intended to be self-sufficient in terms of energy supply and consumption - with eight of the ten properties using electric heating with solar thermal technology and the remaining two having air-source heat pumps, solar thermal hot water, photovoltaics (for electricity supply) and rainwater harvesting.

Earlier this month the site was visited by members of Walpole Parish Council and Suffolk Coastal District Council who were keen to find out how work was progressing.

Parish council Chairman Zo� Mair said: “The nature of villages has changed over the years but with this new development, local people will be able to stay close to their families and places of work. Sustainability is not all about transport and amenities, it's about social cohesion, the glue that keeps a community together, to bring more life into the village of Walpole and give a balance.”

The project - which cost �1.2m - came about following a housing needs survey in 2004 and is being built by Wellington Construction.

Garth Pollard, chairman of Flagship Suffolk Heritage, said: “The scheme is well sited and designed. It offers excellent new homes with two of them achieving the highest green standards.”