SHADOW HOUSING MINISTER VISITS ECO HOMES

Cooperative Homes, Carl Taylor, Manager Redditch, Grant Shapps MP, Sarah Slater, Karen Lumley and Dr Chris Hardy, Chief Exec Accord Group

Shadow Housing Minister Grant Shapps visited a unique Eco Home development designed for local people by local people in Redditch.

Mr Shapps toured Walton Close, a £3m development of 19 low carbon homes built by Accord Housing Group for Redditch Co-operative Homes.

Mr Shapps was shown around the scheme, which residents manage themselves as a co-operative on Thursday.

The homes are built with distinctive timber panels manufactured off-site by a Norwegian co-operative, Hedalm Anebyhus, from sustainable forests.

Compared to a traditionally built house constructed 4 years ago, the homes in Walton Close will produce almost 50% less carbon and cost almost 40% less to run a year.

The 19 homes are part of plans for more than 100 timber Eco Homes either already on site or planned for the Redditch area.

Mr Shapps said: “”It was great to see how the innovative Eco develpment operates as well as getting to meet some of the neighbours who clearly love their new homes

Karen Lumley, the Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Redditch who welcomed Mr Shapps, said: “”It was a pleasure to welcome Grant to Redditch and to go to Walton Close the latest Jewel in the crown of Co operative homes delvelopments here. I was very impresssed by the standard of the homes and the quality of the finish. It was also great to meet up with residents who were delighted to be living in a co op home”

Dr Chris Handy, Chief Executive of the Accord Group said: “These homes have been developed in partnership with local people. They use less energy and fuel bills are much lower. They show that housing can be affordable, high quality and low-carbon. The development of low carbon housing is crucial for the planet and as well as to meet housing need.”