Sovereign Housing commits to 'greener' Hungerford Chestnut Walk development

SOVEREIGN Housing has issued a statement to try to reassure Hungerford residents about a flagship development.

Delays have plagued the joint project by the association and West Berkshire Council for Chestnut Walk in Hungerford.

An announcement back in 2019 unveiled the project to build eight homes on the site of the former care home, which was forced to close after falling victim to West Berkshire Council’s far-reaching cuts to public services in 2016/17.

Subsequently, there was dismay that the new homes, at the former care home site, might use the most expensive form of heating.

The town council pressured for a green upgrade and mayor Helen Simpson said: "We should definitely be demanding higher standards – we were promised zero emission houses in 2016.

"This should be a beacon showpiece for commercial housing developers to demonstrate what they, too, should be doing to make new homes environment friendly and to ensure the occupants of the homes can experience low energy costs without causing climate damage."

Now Sovereign Housing has said in a statement: "While there have been delays ... the joint venture ... is committed to redeveloping the site to provide new environmentally-friendly homes.

"The specification at Chestnut Walk will ensure that the homes will produce 75 per cent less carbon emissions and more environmentally-friendly homes than currently being built and that are being delivered under 2013 building regulations.

"This is the equivalent carbon reduction to that proposed in the Future Homes Standard [the building regulations being introduced in 2025].

"We will achieve this by improved insulation, heating and hot water powered by air-source heat-pumps, and PV panels.

"This specification ensures that the homes will have a lower demand for energy and are more cost efficient for residents to live in."

Sovereign Housing hopes to start on site in the autumn.

The date is subject to a formal tender process and acquisition of the land by the joint venture company.

A spokesperson for Sovereign Housing said: "We're really excited about the potential of this site."