FIRST TENANTS MOVE INTO NEW AFFORDABLE HOMES IN HINDRINGHAM
The first tenants have moved into one of seven new carbon net zero affordable homes in Hindringham, which have been made available to local families with a connection with the village.
Cameron and Tyra Warnes received their keys from Cllr Wendy Fredericks, deputy leader of North Norfolk District Council and portfolio holder for housing and people services, and Katie Docherty, senior local delivery manager at Broadland Housing Association.
The couple, who had waited nine years on the housing list between them, had been living with their six year-old son and 19 month-old daughter in a cramped and expensive private rented home in Fakenham.
Mr and Mrs Warnes, who both grew up close to the village, say that the new home has transformed their life.
“At our house in Fakenham we never felt really safe, but here it is totally different,” said Mrs Warnes, who is a full-time mum. “Hindringham is a beautiful, calm village, and everyone is so friendly. And the local school is just two minutes’ walk away.
“The moment we saw the house it felt like home. We stood outside having a coffee and you could hear a pin drop – a total contrast to where we were living before.”
Mr Warnes, who works as a postman, added, “When we received a call to offer us the home, we didn’t really believe it. I think we expected it to be rabbit-hutchy, but when we opened the door it took our breath away. And we have a garden overlooking fields – it’s such a better place to bring up the kids.
“The fact that the home is energy-efficient is making a big difference, too. When we rang British Gas and found out that our energy payment was only going to be £45 a month, we were really pleased.”
Now the couple is planning to host both families for their first Christmas in their new home.
The two-bedroom bungalow is one of seven homes (five bungalows and two houses) built on an infill plot opposite the village school in Hindringham. All of the new homes are net zero operational carbon thanks to a combination of sustainable technologies.
The new homes have been designed in the style of a former farmhouse and converted barns so that they sit sympathetically with the local village landscape, using traditional materials including timber and flint.
Funding for the project came from Broadland Housing Association and North Norfolk District Council, along with Homes England as part of a wider package to build six such local needs exception housing schemes across the district.
The new affordable homes boast a range of energy-efficiency technologies including air source heat pumps, photovoltaic panels, mechanical ventilation and heat recovery systems and air tightness. As a result they will be net zero operational carbon.
“The demand we have already seen for these seven homes in Hindringham shows that affordable housing is very much needed in village communities across North Norfolk,” said Michael Newey, chief executive of Broadland Housing Association.
“The local lettings policy which applies to this site means that priority has been given to families who have a connection with Hindringham and the surrounding villages, ensuring that these new homes will be a genuine asset to the local community.”