Cllr Natalie Bennett officially opens the Ringfield Close site with Cllr Steve Robinson (L) and Cllr Norman Kay (R)

Twenty energy efficient new homes have been built by Stroud District Council on the site of a former sheltered housing scheme in Nailsworth.

The site was previously occupied by a garage site and sheltered housing scheme for older people.

“The 1960’s prefabricated concrete homes were cold and draughty with poor energy performance standards and had been identified as not fit for purpose during a review of council-owned sheltered housing stock,” said a council spokesperson.

“The new homes are a mix of 15 houses and flats for affordable rent, and five houses and bungalows for shared ownership.

“Built by construction firm Beard, the properties are all highly insulated, fitted with air source heat pumps and solar panels, resulting in an energy-efficient EPC rating of A.

“Each property has one or more parking spaces, which can easily be adapted for EV charging.

“Most are designed to be `lifetime homes’ and include features such as ground floor access, the ability to install through-floor lifts and convert ground floor WCs to shower rooms in the future.

“Local wildlife will benefit from bat and bird boxes, hedgehog holes in fences, permeable paving and rain gardens which will assist with drainage on the site.

“The site was formally opened by SDC ward member for Nailsworth, Cllr Natalie Bennett, who was joined by Nailsworth ward councillors Steve Robinson (also chair of council) and Norman Kay.”

Cllr Bennett said: “I’m delighted to officially open this imaginative scheme which will bring much needed, high quality affordable homes to Nailsworth.”

Cllr Kay said: “This project wouldn’t be a reality without the ingenuity and application of our officers - thank you very much, it’s brilliant!”

Cllr Robinson added: “I’d like to thank the neighbouring residents and I look forward to seeing this new community develop within Nailsworth.”

Ringfield Close is the final project in Stroud District Council’s programme to build 36 new homes in the district during 2022. Earlier this year seven homes were completed in Minchinhampton and nine in Eastington.

Jamie Harwood, Beard Swindon director, said: “Beard is a family-run business with a 130-year history and we are very much part of the communities we serve. We are proud to have delivered these much-needed affordable homes on schedule and on budget.

“Our ambition is to ensure the spaces we create have as little impact as possible on their environment – and these highly insulated, energy-efficient, ecologically responsible homes embody that ethos.”

The project supports Stroud District Council’s Council Plan to build affordable, energy efficient homes and its commitment for the district to become carbon neutral by 2030.

Stroud District Council is the only local authority in Gloucestershire which still owns and manages its own stock of council houses, with the others having transferred theirs into other social housing organisations.

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