Local housing provider Grand Union Housing Group has begun work on its most environmentally friendly new homes to date.
Work is well underway on site at Wood Burcote House, Towcester, to build 20 apartments for shared ownership sale in a three-storey, contemporary brick building.
Wood Burcote House is Grand Union’s first ever development which aims to be net zero carbon. It will pave the way for more environmentally friendly projects, addressing the issues of climate change, the UK housing crisis and the dramatic rise in UK energy costs.
Grand Union demolished its former office in Burcote Road, Towcester, to make way for these modern apartments.
Dave Lakin, Grand Union’s Director of Development & Commercial, said: “At Grand Union, we know that we have a responsibility to make a positive impact on the environment. We are committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2050 and Wood Burcote House is a key milestone on this journey.
“Our plans for this site are to move to greener alternatives for heating homes, using air source heat pumps, as opposed to traditional gas heating systems. We’re working with our contractors to achieve net zero carbon on this site, which would help bring us one step closer to becoming a ‘net zero’ carbon emission organisation.
“We’ve also invested in better insulation for the homes, which will help reduce our customer’s need for heating and positively impact on their energy bills — something incredibly important to address with the rise in UK energy inflation, which is already resulting in energy prices soaring.
“There will be PV solar panels on the roof to capture renewable energy for those who will live in the apartments and charging points for electric cars, to help enable the move to low emission vehicles. The layout has been designed to enhance the existing setting, taking account of the landscaped area to the front of the site and the existing protected trees.
“It’s a historic moment for our organisation, to be able to use the site of our former office to provide affordable homes for residents of Towcester and the surrounding area. We’re very much looking forward to transforming this former office block into high quality, modern homes.”
The apartments are due for completion in June 2023 and come as part of Grand Union’s commitments to becoming a zero carbon organisation. We’re also planning to enhance biodiversity and reduce our water usage and waste production. We’ll be aiming for positive environmental impacts in terms of our homes and the wider community spaces we manage.
Header image shows a CGI of the completed apartments.
