First ever green homes scheme given the greenlight in Gloucestershire

Preparations are underway to begin building 15 new low-carbon homes in Moreton-in-Marsh thanks to an innovative partnership.  

Cottsway Housing Association, West Oxfordshire’s largest affordable housing provider, and Cotswold District Council are working together, alongside Helix Partnership Homes, to provide 15 new affordable homes, which will include sustainable features such as air-source heating, solar roof panels, electric vehicle charging points and enhanced insulation.

The homes, for which the deal was agreed upon this week, will be comprised of one-, two- and three-bedroom properties and will be located on the Davies Road Site in the Cotswolds, which has been cleared ready for construction to begin next month.

Funded by Homes England, an executive non-departmental public body, £1.275m has been given to the project as well as an additional £580,500 for developer funding that was obtained through Section 106 contributions from Cotswold District Council.

Helix Group have also provided construction finance to ensure the homes can be completed by summer 2024.

Richard Reynolds, Cottsway’s Chief Executive, said: ‘Reducing our environmental impact is important to us and this project delivers not only additional much-needed affordable homes, but all with sustainable low-carbon features which we’re proud to be achieving. We’re also delighted that the homes will all be available for social rent, currently at around 55-60% of local market rents.

‘We’re very pleased to be working with Cotswold District Council and Helix Partnership Homes to deliver this innovative project and we would like to thank Homes England for the funding support provided to help make this possible.’

Cllr Joe Harris, Leader of Cotswold District Council, said: ‘I’m delighted that we have been able to enhance this scheme in partnership with Homes England and Cottsway. The Davies Road site will be the first green home scheme of its kind in the Cotswolds.

‘The Davies Road site was allocated for development in the Council’s Local Plan, and our officers worked hard to ensure the development moved from a standard, mixed market development to an ‘all affordable’ scheme, with an extra grant from Homes England to take the sustainability standards a step further.’

Image: Magda Vrabetz