Timber frame construction methods and use of wood windows have been singled out as beneficiaries of a new £5m government grant scheme to increase the use of renewable building materials.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has provided funding under the Low Carbon Investment Fund wich will be administered through the Homes and Communities Agency’s (HCA) Low Carbon Investment Fund.
“Only homes that start on site during this financial year, achieve Level 4 or above of the Code for Sustainable Homes and use a very high proportion of construction materials from renewable sources such as timber frame, natural insulation and timber windows will be eligible for funding,” said the DECC.
HCA chairman Robert Napier said the move was a “highly significant” stepping stone in creating greener homes and using renewable materials was “imperative” to the future of housebuilding.
The first three projects to receive funding are Denmark Lane, Diss, Norfolk – 114 homes, including 102 affordable homes, built to Level 4 by Czero, with Flagship Housing as RSL partner. A total of £3m is being granted.
The Triangle in Swindon will receive £840,000 to deliver 42 affordable homes built by Kevin McCloud’s development company Hab Oakus, with Greensquare Group as the RSL partner.
A rural scheme including 16 affordable homes in Blackditch, Oxfordshire for RSL Cottsway Housing will receive £320,000.
Further schemes to receive funding will be announced later this year, with the first homes to be finished by next March.
The intention is to fund affordable homes across six sites. has provided funding under the Low Carbon Investment Fund wich will be administered through the Homes and Communities Agency’s (HCA) Low Carbon Investment Fund.
“Only homes that start on site during this financial year, achieve Level 4 or above of the Code for Sustainable Homes and use a very high proportion of construction materials from renewable sources such as timber frame, natural insulation and timber windows will be eligible for funding,” said the DECC.
HCA chairman Robert Napier said the move was a “highly significant” stepping stone in creating greener homes and using renewable materials was “imperative” to the future of housebuilding.
The first three projects to receive funding are Denmark Lane, Diss, Norfolk – 114 homes, including 102 affordable homes, built to Level 4 by Czero, with Flagship Housing as RSL partner. A total of £3m is being granted.
The Triangle in Swindon will receive £840,000 to deliver 42 affordable homes built by Kevin McCloud’s development company Hab Oakus, with Greensquare Group as the RSL partner.
A rural scheme including 16 affordable homes in Blackditch, Oxfordshire for RSL Cottsway Housing will receive £320,000.
Further schemes to receive funding will be announced later this year, with the first homes to be finished by next March.
The intention is to fund affordable homes across six sites.
