The Mid Street development in South Nutfield, Surrey, the first habitable code Level 5 affordable housing development in the UK, has completed and was officially opened on 18 April.
The completion of the £305,000 scheme was marked with an opening ceremony attended by Peter Ainsworth MP for East Surrey and Shadow Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary.
To achieve Level 5 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, the properties have been built using Innovaré's Structural Insulated Panel System which contribute to a reduction in energy consumption in terms of U-Value, air tightness and increased thermal performance. Air leakage sealing is used to ensure heat is retained and the properties will run on renewable energy sourced from photovoltaic panels. Triple glazed windows and low energy lighting has also been fitted and all the sanitary ware is water saving. The homes boast further sustainable features such as biomass (wood pellet) boilers, rain water harvesting and heat recovery ventilation systems.
The properties’ environmental performance and energy usage will be monitored by the Energy Saving Trust over the next two years, with results and readings available throughout. 