Brixton sees launch of eco-friendly affordable family homes

On Thursday 10 July Metropolitan Housing Trust (MHT) London launches Angela Carter Close, a new eco homes development located in Brixton, south London.

The houses are timber frame construction using 95% Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) timber and were completed in less than two years and has achieved EcoHomes 'Excellent' standard. Five of the nine homes have been fitted with solar thermal panels providing residents with heating and hot water. Part funded by Lambeth Council, the solar panels offer a welcome savings on bills to residents. Within each property there is storage for recycling along with a large external storage area for bicycles. Among the other sustainability aspects of the development are the large cavity walls with recycled newspaper insulation, low flush w.cs , water flow restrictors on taps and a 220 litre water butt in each garden.

Two of the homes have been adapted to provide full wheelchair access throughout the property each with its own covered car-port.

The Land was previously the remnants of very large gardens, which had been left to become overgrown and latterly had been used for prostitution and drug taking. The development is just a few hundred yards from Brixton High Road, and the transformation of this site has been welcomed by residents of the surrounding area.

Principal speaker on the day will be Rona Nicholson, London Field Director of the Housing Corporation, along with Neil Mawson, Managing Director of Metropolitan Housing Trust London. Other speakers will be John Lissimore of London Borough of Lambeth’s Environmental Sustainability Department; they will be joined by Richard Garland of Sandwood and Fran Bradshaw of Anne Thorne Architects. Guests will be given special tours of the properties and the opportunity to meet the residents.

Neil Mawson, Managing Director of MHT London said of the development: "These homes are important for two reasons, they have a high level of sustainability and they also provide much needed housing for large families. We’re delighted at the level of sustainability this development has achieved and that it has been used by industry think tank Constructing Excellence as an example of best practice, for us this speaks volumes."

The Cueva family says: "Since moving into our new home we’ve become more environmentally aware. We recycle more because we’re able to use the compost bin and recycling storage areas. We’re able to save water by using the rain collected in the water butt on our garden."

Angela Carter Close has also been shortlisted for the Constructing Excellence awards - The Legacy Award: Sustainability - and the ceremony will also take place on the evening of the 10 July.

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