The first residents have moved into a new eco-friendly social housing development at Sinclair Meadows, South Shields, dailymail.co.uk reports.

The 21 eco-friendly buildings – which have been in the making for five years – are said to offer ‘a different way of living’, according to developers. They have been developed by not-for-profit organization Four Housing Group.

Image source via Fitz

Eco-friendly social housing development

Energy-saving measures include a communal biomass boiler – which will provide the heating and hot water – as well as a rainwater harvesting system. The rainwater system will make sure rain flows from the roofs to underground storage tanks. The water will be re-used for gardening and to flush toilets.

All properties have the main room facing to the south, in order to collect the maximum level of heat from the sun (which can reduce energy bills). They all also come complete with an energy monitoring system installed, which allows the occupier to see how much energy they have been using.

Image source via Fitz

Natural materials build

What’s more, the buildings were created with natural materials ‘wherever possible’ – such as timber frames, hemp insulation and lime render.

Carbon-negative housing scheme

Dawn Keightley, director of operations for FHG, told greenbuildingpress.co.uk:

“Sinclair Meadows is unique because it is the first purpose-built and designed carbon-negative housing scheme on this scale that, within three years of being built, has the ability to remove its own carbon footprint created during construction.”

Image source via Fitz

Over 500 people applied to take up residency in the 21 properties. It is hoped that the popularity of this new venture might set a template for future communities across the UK.

Author: Samantha Bartlett    Date Written: 03 December 2012