The Metropolitan Housing Trust has opened what it claims is the country鈥檚 first housing development to extract the sun鈥檚 warmth from the earth surrounding it to provide energy-efficient heating.
The 17 homes in Ashfield, Kent, contain 鈥済round-source heat pumps鈥� that provide heat and hot water at 50% of the running costs of traditional gas-powered systems. The pumps have been developed for domestic use by utilities firm Powergen and will power underfloor heating systems and hot water cylinders.
Pupils name scheme
Cymdeithas Tai Cantref has given local primary school pupils the chance to name its new development in the village of Letterston near Fishguard, Pembrokeshire.
The 拢120,000 four-home development will be called Glyn Rhosyn, after the site where St David, the patron saint of Wales, established his first church. The village鈥檚 former hardware store
and workshop forms part of the scheme.
鈥楲s鈥� get facelift
Sunderland Housing Group this week officially opened its newly refurbished tower blocks in the east end of
the city (pictured).
The Lambton, Lumley and Londonderry towers, known as 鈥渢he three Ls鈥�, contain 214 flats and the 拢8.1m refurbishment is the group鈥檚 largest investment to date. Work began in 1998 and has included 拢1.08m- worth of environmental improvements around the three blocks.
Belfast upgrade
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive has completed a 拢1.2m refurb scheme in the Twinbrook district of Belfast. Around 36 flats in the Almond Heights and Broom Park Heights blocks have been given new kitchens, doors, windows and central heating. A major aspect of the work was to replace the single open staircase with individual stairs, each serving only two or three flats. The scheme is part of the ongoing regeneration of the area.
Source
Housing Today
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