Multi-million pound development to create energy efficient homes

Weaklands new homes Engie

Sheffield City Council has appointed leading energy, services and regeneration specialist ENGIE to develop a new homes project in Hackenthorpe, Sheffield.

The £4.75 million development on the former Weakland estate will include the construction of 36 affordable homes, lead to the employment of four apprentices and will see the two, three and four bedroom, energy efficient properties incorporate Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems which provide a constant supply of fresh filtered air.

The Weakland estate is located in the south-east of the city. Together with Scowerdons and Newstead, they were made up of 809 non-traditional houses, built in the 1960s.

These property types suffered from persistent repair and structural problems arising from their construction style.

In addition to disrepair problems, the lack of choice in the type and size of housing available and the outdated layout and design contributed to concerns about the sustainability of the estates and they were demolished in the early 2000s.

Sheffield City Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Paul Wood, said: “It is great to breathe new life into these estates and so encouraging that they are so energy efficient. I am confident they will stand proudly at the heart of the Weakland estate. I am committed to bringing forward new homes for people who need them and to provide more choice of homes in some of our local neighbourhoods.”

Councillor Bob Johnson cabinet member for development added: “I am pleased, as part of the Council’s Affordable Housing New Homes Delivery Programme, to award the contract to Engie who have been asked to build 36 new family homes on the Weakland estate and, as a result of this this are committing to recruiting local people and, the establishment of four new apprentices which is excellent news.”

These attractive new homes have been designed to provide larger than average space standards and improved energy efficiency to help people to afford to live in their new home.

MVHR works by extracting the air from polluted sources and re-supplying it to different rooms. The extracted air is taken through a central heat exchanger and the heat recovered into the supply air. This feature helps to give the project a unique edge and will provide new residents with the opportunity to reduce their home energy costs.

The project will provide employment opportunities for four apprentices and due to demand will run to a tight timescale with initial work starting in August and completing in early 2020.

Engie’s Regional Director Nathan Brough said: “We are really pleased to be involved with this exciting project. It’s a pleasure to once again be working with Sheffield City Council on such a worthwhile scheme which will benefit the wider Sheffield community.”

Photo details left to right: Glen John-Lewis, Project Manager - Capital Delivery Service  Sheffield City Council, Councillor Denise Fox - Birley Ward councillor, Nathan Brough -  Engie's Regional Director and Joanne Payne, Project Manager - Capital Delivery Service Sheffield City Council.