Affordable Housing In Newtown
Lowfield Timber Frames have recently completed the timber frame construction for Powys County Council’s new low-carbon affordable housing development at Maesyrhandir, Newtown. It is always a pleasure to work on projects close to our head office providing a local workforce and further reducing our carbon emissions.
The development consists of 18 highly efficient, energy-performing dwellings including one three-bedroomed bungalow, 11 two- bedroomed houses, three three-bedroomed houses, two four- bedroomed houses and one five- bedroomed house.
The development utilised Welsh grown timber for the timber frame walls, insulated with wood fibre which allowed the council to avoid using the environmentally unfriendly blockwork internal walls and polyurethane insulation.
Timber has lower embodied carbon levels than any other building material. Keeping both embodied and operational carbon low was important for this project which was part funded by the Welsh Government’s Innovative Housing Programme. Heating and hot water will be provided using air source heat pumps, which is much better for the environment than gas heating.
Cllr Matthew Dorrance, Powys County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for a Fairer Powys, recently visited the low-carbon housing development at Maesyrhandir and said: “We are pleased that Lowfield Timber Frames were involved in this project, being a local company with many employees from the County.
“We are particularly pleased that the timber frame construction used Welsh grown timber, and that low carbon materials are being used throughout the scheme. The resulting dwellings will be comfortable and well insulated, meeting the highest energy performance certification, EPC A, and designed to Welsh Government’s Welsh Design Quality Requirements.
“We cannot build the stronger, fairer, greener Powys we want without tackling the housing emergency in the county. The only way we can achieve this is by building high-quality council housing.
“Not only does this development and the two other social housing schemes we are building in Newtown meet the needs of the local community, but they are also important schemes that will help us tackle the housing emergency.”
If you would like to know more about how we can help you achieve your low energy goals get in touch today.
Lowfield Timber Frames have been involved in a number of Affordable Housing projects for Powys County Council.
