NEW FIFE DEVELOPMENT SUPPORTS GREEN STRATEGY
The second phase of Kingdom Housing Association’s affordable housing development at Torryburn in Fife is nearing completion with all of the homes designed to net-zero carbon emission standards.
Four new highly energy-efficient homes make up the second phase of Kingdom’s development in the village bringing the total of new homes for social rent to 12 and help promote the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Plan and Housing to 2040 Strategy, which aims to deliver new homes to zero carbon standards.
Driven by Kingdom’s ambition to implement modern methods of construction, an innovative form of off-site panelised timber construction has been used during the build which delivers pre-installed doors, windows, internal plasterboard and external render to the site.
During a recent site visit, Kingdom Group Chief Executive Bill Banks was shown the progress of the build and the range of green technologies used including solar panels, waste-water heat recovery systems, and net-zero carbon heating systems in the form of air source heat pumps.
Following the site visit Bill said, “Kingdom’s commitment to sustainability and the environment is longstanding. In 2010 we were the first housing association in the UK to achieve Passivhaus accreditation with a home for social rent and our latest Net Zero corporate strategy recognises the importance of reducing carbon emissions across everything we do.”
He added: “Campion Homes are building these homes for us all of which meet Housing for Varying Needs, Secured by Design, and our own Design standards, as well as Building Regulations Enhanced Sustainability Standards. All of that means Kingdom can provide stylish, safe and highly energy-efficient homes for our tenants. The homes will use less energy to heat, which helps with cost of living increases. It’s good for our tenants and it’s good for the environment too.”
Julie Watson, Kingdom’s Head of Capital Investment said, “The development at Main Street, Torryburn, features both general needs and amenity standard homes, all of which benefit from private gardens and superfast broadband. A range of community benefits including training opportunities and job creation have also been delivered during the construction phase.” The total project cost is £1.14 million with £402,498 funded by the Scottish Government and the remaining balance financed by Kingdom Housing Association and a variety of other contributors. The project is scheduled to complete in August 2022 with homes being allocated from the Fife Housing Register.
