Tenants have begun to move into 22 new affordable homes for rent, which have been built on the site of a former Council-owned care home.

The scheme has transformed the site of the demolished Warwick House, on Bonsall Avenue, into a mixture of seven 1-bedroom houses, eight 2-bedroom houses and seven 4-bedroom houses. These properties are helping the Council address the need for affordable housing in the city, sitting alongside other Council-led housing developments including The Knoll, Drewry Lane, and Brentford Drive.

Designed by Halsall Lloyd Partnership and built by Mercer Building Solutions, the highly insulated houses have been given EPC ratings of A, the highest energy efficiency rating that can be awarded to properties, helping tenants keep their energy bills as low as possible. Each home has solar panels and is heated by a highly efficient air source heat pump. The homes have been created to meet the Future Homes Standard which will result in a reduction of operational carbon emissions by 74%-80%.

The homes are owned by the Council and are being managed by Derby Homes, the Council’s Arms Length Management Organisation, with tenants now moving into the properties. 

Councillor Shiraz Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing, Strategic Planning and Regulatory Services, said:

Derby, like all other cities, faces a challenge in finding suitable and available land for homes which are affordable to rent and energy efficient. This development sits alongside a range of developments on Council-owned land that have recently been completed, including Brentford Drive, The Knoll, and Drewry Lane. We are dedicated to providing sustainable and affordable housing across the city and we continue to review the use of land and assets that we own for future developments.

Katy Mercer, Director at Mercer Building Solutions Ltd, said:

We are pleased to be delivering new homes at Bonsall Avenue, supporting the delivery of high-quality housing within the city. We are proud to partner with Derby City Council and Derby Homes across a number of schemes in Derby, working collaboratively to address housing demand and deliver sustainable, well-designed developments. The Bonsall Avenue development reflects our commitment to strong partnerships, quality delivery and creating long-term value for communities.