Redcar celebrates eco homes launch

Residents of South Bank, who have seen hundreds of houses demolished in recent times, are celebrating the first new home in the area for 20 years

Local people, who have strongly supported the development, were among the guests of honour when a show home featuring the latest environmentally-friendly technology was officially opened at the ground-breaking £3.5m Eco Village in South Bank, on Teesside.

The Low Pastures scheme, built by North-East based Gentoo, is an integral part of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council's multi-million pound regeneration programme for South Bank.

Four of the Eco Village's 15 new houses meet the Government's challenging Code for Sustainable Home's level six - the first of their kind in the area to be carbon neutral. A further 11 terraced properties, in Queen Street, have been fully refurbished and are available to rent or buy through shared-equity schemes.

Homeowners in the code six houses can expect to save up to £1,000 a year on energy bills, compared to those in traditional properties. The high level of interest in the project has already seen two homes sold and another already allocated for rent.

The Mayor of Redcar & Cleveland, Councillor Olwyn Peters (photo, centre), was joined by HCA Chief Executive Pat Ritchie and Gentoo Chief Executive Peter Walls for the show home opening.

The HCA has invested £936,000 in the project, with £740,000 coming from the Council's capital programme and £650,000 from Growth Point.

Councillor Lynn Pallister, the Council's Cabinet Member for Housing and Neighbourhood Renewal, said:

"People in South Bank have been asking us to provide new affordable housing for some time and, after years of demolition, the Eco Village is a fantastic centrepiece for the community. I am delighted that the show home is opening for people to get a good look at what this pioneering development has to offer."

Pat Ritchie, HCA Chief Executive, said:

"It is fantastic to be able to come back and see how much has been achieved since my last visit. These 26 homes, whether newly-built or refurbished, provide an example of what can be achieved by strong local partnerships and are a tribute to all the efforts of the community partnership, Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council and Gentoo.

"The £936,000 from the HCA has been well spent to help deliver homes that will not only save energy, but will also save money for the tenants, and I am really pleased to see that the ambitious plans have become a reality."

Peter Walls, Gentoo Chief Executive, said:

"We are delighted to have been involved in the regeneration of South Bank. At Gentoo, we aim to make a positive mark on the future by investing in people, the planet and property, and Low Pastures is an excellent example of this.

"The development has not only brought new housing to the area, it has also created employment opportunities and engaged the community of South Bank. We hope that this bespoke development will meet customer and community aspirations which are sustainable in the future."

» Learn more about the Eco Village