A development of affordable homes built by Thames Valley Housing (TVH) in partnership with Kingston Council has achieved Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4, a first for both organisations.
St Andrews development, built on the site of a former church, will provide 16 homes for social rent, including two adapted for wheel chair use. At its centre is a beautiful landscaped garden and play areas for children.
Residents will benefit from reduced heating bills thanks to the to the innovative construction which includes a high degree of air-tightness reducing heat loss through the walls and structure. Photo-voltaic panels built into the roofs will power the communal lighting which should further reduce service charge costs.
Geeta Nanda,TVH CEO, said, “ Building these high quality, affordable homes in a sustainable and family-friendly environment, superbly demonstrates our commitment, not just to building houses, but to providing homes, to the people who live in them and to the wider community as well.
The Worshipful the Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, Councillor Chrissie Hitchcock said, “I am delighted to see the completion of this development, that provides much needed homes for households in priority need, including family and wheelchair accommodation. This is an energy efficient scheme that has been designed with sensitivity to the local environment, setting a good example of the quality we would wish to see in future developments in the borough.”
The two homes for wheelchair users have wet rooms with level access showers in the bathrooms, kitchens fitted with height adjustable cookers, as well as work stations and other appliances.
They have been designed by Shoenaich Landscape Architects, who have used natural materials and plants to create mini-hills and other fun shapes and forms in the garden, so children can play securely and creatively, close to their parent and their home.
The local sea scouts who used a scout hut adjacent to the site have also benefited. The hut was run down and due to be rebuilt. TVH offered to incorporate the rebuild of the hut into their contract. TVH consulted extensively with the scouts to make sure they got the building they wanted, whilst use of a joint contract meant considerably reduced the costs for the scouts.