21 October 2011
Councillors met with residents this week to mark one of the first newly-built code four sustainable council homes in Eastbourne in 20 years.
The code for sustainable homes is an environmental assessment which rates the overall sustainability and energy efficiency of a home. Homes are rated from one to six and the flats have met the rigorous national standard to achieve four-star status.
Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, Cllr David Tutt, and Cllr Margaret Bannister, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Development, joined tenants and officers from the council and Eastbourne Homes at Greenpoint, Upper Avenue to tour the new development.
Cllr Margaret Bannister said:
“Meeting the housing needs of our community is a very high priority for the council and these new flats will offer comfortable and affordable new homes for local people. It is also especially rewarding that this is the second project of its kind in two decades.”
The modern, energy-efficient homes were built with the help of grant funding from The Homes and Communities Agency. All of the 12 flats, completed in March, have high levels of insulation which will ensure running costs are kept low.
Service charges will be greatly lowered as there will be no charge to tenants for electricity use in communal areas. Upper Avenue resident, John Evenden, 55, moved to the new development in April. He said:
“Everyone is more than happy with the standard of housing here. There’s a general good feeling around the flats which are very spacious and finished to a very high standard. It’s also nice to have two large double bedrooms. I can see myself staying here for quite some time.”
The council has completed 18 additional flats and houses in 2011 and are working in partnership with local housing associations to build a further 62 new affordable homes which will be completed over the next 12 months.
