HEATING bills will be slashed by more than 80 per cent at a £6million development of 21 low carbon homes in Conwy.

The properties, at the Plas Penrhyn site in Penrhyn Bay, are being built to passivhaus standards thanks to a partnership between two housing associations, Adra and Cartrefi Conwy.

The timber frames and posi-joists for the affordable homes are being custom made for the Adra scheme by Creating Enterprise, a subsidiary of Cartrefi, at its factory in Rhyl.

READ MORE:

Abergele runners take on Cheshire 5k event and hilly parkrun

The development was paused for a while when the original construction company, Brenig, went into voluntary liquidation.

But it’s now all systems go again after Beech Developments was appointed in its place.

Work has started on the site which will comprise a mix of social rent and intermediate rent properties of varying sizes, including a specially adapted one-bedroom bungalow, four two-bedroom bungalows, eight two-bedroom houses and eight three-bedroom houses.

The foundations for the first phase are in place with the frames to be trucked onto the site within weeks and the project due to be completed in about 12 months.

According to Adra, the properties are virtually self-sufficient in terms of heating, with little energy required from the grid – and no fossil fuels being used directly by the properties.

The green theme continues outside where there will be electric vehicle chargers which will be powered in part by the solar panels.

Adrian Johnson, deputy chief executive of Cartrefi Conwy, who heads up Creating Enterprise, said: “We’re very proud to be working in partnership with Adra on this fantastic project and to be providing the timber frames and posi-joists to build these affordable, energy efficient and environmentally friendly homes for local people.

“The beauty of the passivhaus modular system is that it can be configured in different ways – ranging from a single storey one-bedroom bungalow to a two-storey family home.

“This development is tackling two different issues at the same time, reducing fuel poverty, with a saving of more than 80 per cent on heating bills as compared to traditional homes, and providing much needed homes to address the desperate shortage of affordable housing.

“We are creating a virtuous circle because the profit we make is being recycled for the benefit of our communities.

“The other gain from this project is that the workforce and the supply chains are local so 80 per cent of the cost of the project is going back into the local economy. We’re using the Welsh pound in the best possible way.”

Gethin Thomas, Adra Development Project Manager, will be helping to manage the development through to handover to the tenants.

He said: “This is the first passivhaus development for us at Adra, occupants will benefit from increased energy efficiency and reduced bills and we hope this will be the start of a future of similar developments.

“Our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint aligns with our mission to benefit our tenants and contribute positively to environmental sustainability.

“Engaging in projects of this nature is personally exhilarating, as it underscores the pivotal role of carbon emission reduction and heightened energy efficiency in the trajectory of housebuilding's future.

“From my own point of view, it’s really exciting being involved in a project like this and look forward to seeing the progression on site.”