North Star’s first net zero housing scheme hailed by MP as ‘model for the country’

A North East housing association has unveiled its first net zero development with an MP describing it as a model for the country to follow.

Darlington MP Lola McEvoy officially opened North Star Housing Group’s Eldon Street scheme, providing 12 affordable, energy-efficient homes for social rent on the site of a former snooker hall.

The attractive terrace development comprises eight two-bedroomed and four three-bedroomed houses, using the latest technology to keep energy costs below £100 per year.

All of the homes have spacious design as well as being easily accessible and adaptable if there are any future mobility issues.

The MP said: “In Darlington and across the country, there is a need for high-quality, gold standard builds like this, but there is a doubt among ordinary people about whether they can be delivered.

“What North Star has done here in Darlington is to provide me with a great case study to go back to Westminster and say we need more contracts like this.

“Seeing such high-quality homes delivered at such pace is a real joy because it shows we have a model to fill some of the social gaps. Having a safe, efficient home provides the stability for people to dream bigger and we need to see more of it.”

The brownfield regeneration scheme cost £2.8m, with grant support of £1.1m from Homes England, and attracted more than100 applications through Darlington Home Search, underlining the demand for high-quality affordable homes.

Construction work began in March last year and tenancies will begin next month, with rents for the two-bedroomed homes costing £110 per week and £123 for the three-bedroomed homes.

Net zero carbon emissions have been achieved through a range of energy-efficient measures including:

• Structural Insulated Panel construction to reduce waste and maximise thermal efficiency.
• Air source heat pumps in the rear yards.
• Photovoltaic roof panels.
• Battery storage to capture unused electricity from the solar panels.
• Extra-thick loft insulation.
• Shower savers to reuse some heat from waste water.
• Electric vehicle chargers.
• Weather sensors linked to smart energy management systems.

David Walker, a North Star board member with 40 years’ experience in construction, described the scheme as “a fabulous development that shows what North Star is really good at”.

Homes England, the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, welcomed the development, with Director of Affordable Housing, Shahi Islam, saying: “This investment through the Affordable Homes Programme allows our partners and registered providers to do just that. It has enabled North Star to build 12 much needed new homes the people of Darlington can be proud of.”

David McKellar, of Stockton-based HMH Architects, added: “It’s definitely a project at the forefront of the affordable housing market in terms of sustainability.”