New fossil-fuel free homes have landed in Dorset

A development of over 20 new, sustainable and affordable homes have just finished being built in Lytchett Matravers, Dorset.  

The new development, which was announced to be complete last week, came during the National Housing federation’s Rural Housing Week and Net-Zero week. Both events commenced on 3^rd July and ended on 7^th.  The new homes are currently being celebrated by Stonewater, an organisation that has recently been awarded a gold accreditation for major environmental improvements.

With many individuals and families across the country finding themselves priced out of rural areas and villages they have grown up in, the site provides vital new affordable homes, with added energy-efficient features to bring down bills and reduce carbon emissions.

Affordable housing provider Stonewater and developer Drew Smith, part of Vistry Partnerships, teamed up to construct the scheme off Purbeck Road, with work completing over the last few months.

The homes, which were built on Wessex Water unused land, will benefit from low-carbon heating in the form of air-source heat pumps, as well as provision for electric car charging.

Residents have now begun moving into the new properties, which are comprised of one and two-bedroom apartments with communal gardens and two, three and four bedroom houses with private gardens for social rent, along with a further nine two and three bedroom houses for shared ownership, providing local people with a chance to eventually own the property.

Matt Crucefix, director of Development (South and West) at Stonewater, said: ‘We are so pleased to be able to provide affordable rural housing sites such as these, this time working once again with Dorset Council and our partner Drew Smith to bring the new homes to life.

‘Managing more than 2,000 homes across Dorset, Bournemouth, and Poole, we understand the need for affordable housing in villages like Lytchett Matravers. Projects like Purbeck Road are a good example of how organisations can work in partnership to provide high-quality, affordable, and environmentally conscious developments, while supporting local communities.’

The development has been supported by Dorset Council, as well as funding from Homes England, as part of Stonewater’s strategic partnership with Guinness.

Image: Stonewater