Press Releases
Friday, 10 March 2006
Affordable housing providers working in tandem towards a greener future
Midsummer Housing Association promoted a more environmentally friendly method of transport this week, when they opened their recently completed ‘green’ housing development at Medbourne in Milton Keynes. Peter Dixon, Chair of the Housing Corporation and Felicity Evans, Midsummer’s Chair, proved that two can do better than one, by riding a tandem around the development.
Having provided cycle stores and sheds at the 85-home scheme, Midsummer got together with local supplier Phil Corley Cycles to give all the residents the opportunity to win a bike.
Maggie Sherlock, Chief Executive at Midsummer thought the competition was a fitting way to celebrate the completion of the scheme, saying; “Our development has easy access to the MK ‘redway’ that makes it possible to cycle safely from one side of the city to the other. We’re really keen to encourage our residents and staff to use such sustainable and eco-friendly means of transport.”
Completed at the end of last year, Medbourne boasts lots of environmentally friendly features aimed at reducing the residents’ consumption of energy and water including solar panels, highly efficient condensing boilers, and energy efficient lighting both internally and externally. Landscaping and the provision of bat and bird boxes enhance the ecological value of the site. The scheme has achieved the highest EcoHomes rating of Excellent.
Officially opening Midsummer Housing Association’s 85-home development on Medbourne, Peter Dixon said:
“I am extremely pleased to perform the official opening of Medbourne, which the Housing Corporation has helped to fund. This development is one of a handful of schemes in the South East that has obtained an EcoHomes rating of Excellent. Midsummer has created well designed homes that people will enjoy living in for many years to come
“This is another example of modern methods of construction producing a high quality development meeting a variety of housing need in the Milton Keynes area.”
This £10.25million scheme was constructed by Jarvis Contracting Ltd using three different types of modern methods of construction on land provided by English Partnerships. The development has provided 65 affordable homes for key workers and shared ownership and 20 for rent.
