Shropshire housing team is moving towards a more sustainable future

As the Government works towards the new Future Homes Standard – which aims to make all new build homes more sustainable – Shropshire Council is rising to the challenge in various ways.

Part of meeting the Future Homes Standard as it comes into effect in 2025 will be a new set of building regulations which aim to deliver a 31% improvement on current sustainability and energy efficiency standards, through things such as low-carbon heating, fabric improvements and the adoption of renewable energy sources.

Right Home Right Place, part of the council’s housing team, says Shropshire has been using renewable energy sources in select new-build locations for a number of years.

Callaughtons Ash in Much Wenlock is Shropshire’s first affordable housing scheme to be built to Passivhaus standards, and was developed specifically to address the growing challenge of fuel poverty and other running costs in affordable homes.

Another example is the Little Stocks Close community-led scheme in Kinlet, near Bridgnorth, offering affordable rented housing for people with local connections to the area.

Tim Baldwin, Shropshire Council’s affordable warmth and energy efficiency officer, believes there are some unique challenges ahead. Find out what they are at: How can we make Shropshire’s homes more sustainable? – Right Home, Right Place (righthomerightplace.co.uk)