New council homes to use sustainable construction products

Posted by Andrew Marshall

Council houses in Yorkshire could soon benefit from the use of sustainable construction products under new plans to be agreed tomorrow.

Building work is underway on a new 27-house site in the Shirecliffe area of Sheffield after a successful £1.5 million bid to improve local housing by providing a large number of energy efficient buildings.

Officers from the Homes and Communities Agency have confirmed that further eco-friendly properties will be constructed in Burngreave and Parson Cross.

In a report, they said: ''It will improve the overall sustainability of these communities by providing good quality housing as well as choice and access to a wider offer of homes in the areas.''

Many of the two, three, four and five-bedroom properties will include roof-mounted solar panels for hot water and electricity, as well as low-water sanitary appliances to promote energy efficiency and keep utility bills down.

Elsewhere in Yorkshire, work has begun to transform an old Headingley primary school into a state-of-the-art centre with meeting rooms for community groups and a solar thermal heating system.