19 / 11 / 2015
Birmingham Council’s successful pilot scheme to develop a number of energy efficient Housing Association bungalows, was a clever and successful endeavour according to Sarah Price, Commercial Sales Manager at frameXpress.
We were contracted to supply a variety of energy efficient products including Composite Doors in oak foil finish, rear entrance doors and white windows with astragal bars in FS70mm system for eleven dormer bungalows. The project was funded under the Homes and Communities Agency’s affordable homes programme via the council’s building vehicle, the Birmingham Municipal Housing Trust.
The £1.15 m pilot scheme in Selly Oak, Birmingham was initially developed to encourage elderly residents to move out of their family-sized homes and generate space for larger families who needed the accommodation. This particular development included a mix of two bedroom bungalows and dormer bungalows that had been designed by BM3 Architecture.
The bungalows were assembled in a horse-shoe style layout that created a south facing internal courtyard and provided both private and communal amenity space for the residents. The dwellings were designed as a tight development, with minimal gaps between dwellings to provide a sense of community and security.
Constructed by a longstanding frameXpress customer who relies on the quality of our range and the integrity of the business support services, it was a successful project from the outset with many tenants signed up to the bungalow scheme before completion.
Sarah believes that this type of commercial venture will become increasingly popular across the sector as the need to cater for an increasingly elderly population augments. She comments,
“Safe, secure, energy efficient housing such as this project will become more frequent in the commercial sector as the need to reduce under-occupancy of larger family-sized homes will continue.
Likewise, in general, with the economic recovery in full swing and money flowing back into commercial development, the market is much more buoyant. Products and services on the commercial side of the market are much more exciting and there is real potential within this arena.”
For more information please call Sarah Price directly on 01952 581100