Derby’s first net zero council homes built in Arboretum
Published: 27 December 2023
The new homes at Cummings Street will produce -0.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Derby Homes has finished building four, two-bedroom homes in Arboretum that have added to the Derby City Council’s housing stock. The properties are rated A for energy efficiency and produce -0.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide making them the first carbon negative council properties in Derby.
This means, the homes can generate more energy than they consume across a year making them even better than net zero.
This is a huge milestone and one that supports Derby’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions. The aim is, where possible, for all future Derby Homes and Derby City Council development projects to be built to this specification.
The development is to a high-standard, featuring modern kitchens and bathrooms, spacious living rooms, kitchen-dining rooms, turfed rear gardens and resident parking. They all feature integrated solar panels, are extremely well insulated and are heated by a low carbon air source heat pump for lower living costs.
The homes on Cummings Street have been developed in partnership with Arcus Consulting and Consulting on behalf the Council and have already been let in line with the Council’s allocations policy.
Chair of Derby Homes, Jsan Shepherd said:
“We didn’t set out to build carbon negative properties, we just wanted to create solid, well insulated houses that use the latest energy efficiency technology.”
“We’re investing in our existing stock too. We’re improving insulation in some of our coldest properties, installing solar panels on roofs and protecting the local swift population by attaching boxes to homes for them to nest safely.”
“I’m incredibly proud to be part of these innovative, forward-thinking projects and I’m excited to see how this changes the landscape of social housing for the better.”
Councillor Shiraz Kahn, Cabinet Member for Housing, Property and Regulatory Services, said:
“These properties not only provide homes for families who desperately need them, but the energy efficient designs will mean the cost of heating and powering them should be more affordable.”
“This site was prone to fly tipping and was using significant Council resources to clear it regularly, so the project has also delivered much wider benefits.”
Councillor Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability, added:
“To be building net zero council houses is a monumental achievement and one the people of Derby should be so proud of.”
“The project is partnership working at it’s very best and feeds into the Council’s ‘Green City’ focus area.”
Derby Homes is an Arm’s Length Management Organisation (ALMO) that manages Derby City Council’s housing stock, but also owns properties as a Registered Provider and Investment Partner with the Regulator of Social Housing.
The partnership between the Council and Derby Homes often develops on complex sites which are not attractive to other developers and housing associations. This creates opportunities which would not normally be available to increase the number of affordable homes in Derby.