FIVE NEW ‘NET ZERO’ AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR SALTHOUSE HANDED OVER

The keys to five new ‘net zero’ affordable homes in Salthouse have been handed over to families who have a local connection with the village.

At a ceremony at the site, Broadland Housing Association chair Jenny Watson and Cllr Victoria Holliday from North Norfolk District Council and Salthouse Parish Council handed over the keys to the first tenant, Megan, who has moved into her new home with partner and two young children.

The new homes, which have been constructed with extensive use of flint to fit into Salthouse’s existing aesthetic, are the result of a partnership between Broadland Housing, North Norfolk District Council and Homes England, which is delivering a package of five ‘local need exception housing’ schemes to deliver much-needed affordable homes for local people across the North Norfolk district.

The two two-bedroom bungalows, two two-bedroom houses, and one three-bedroom house are operationally carbon net zero, a high level of energy efficiency which uses air source heat pumps, treble glazed windows, enhanced insulation and air tightness, along with mechanical ventilation, heat recovery systems to reduce energy demand, offset by renewable energy generated by photovoltaic panels.  

Each new home also has its own electric vehicle charging points.

Priority has been given to people with a connection with Salthouse and its adjoining villages, under a ‘local lettings’ policy.

Receiving the keys to her new home, Megan said, “It’s so nice to be able to bring up the kids near family, and in a home which has enough space for us all.  And the energy efficiency means it’s going to be affordable to run the house as well. After spending the past six years living in private rented accommodation, which was expensive, not big enough for us, it is wonderful to be able to live in Salthouse once again.”

Broadland Housing Association chair Jenny Watson said, “This has been a real partnership effort.  I particularly want to think Salthouse Parish Council, which wanted to keep local families in the village; the whole village was really supportive all the way through the process.

“I also want to thank Norfolk County Council for finding the land on which we could build this.  Their decision to dispose of this former flint quarry made it all possible.  We also couldn’t have got here without the grants from Homes England and the section 106 contributions from North Norfolk District Council.

“We were originally established to make a contribution to ending homelessness in this part of the world, and that is still our enduring purpose.  So moments like this are really important, because it’s when we see having a home become a reality for people, which enables them to thrive as families within their community.”

Cllr Victoria Holliday, who is the North Norfolk district councillor for Salthouse and also sits on Salthouse Parish Council, said, “I am so excited to be here today at the opening of these much-needed new homes for families with close connections to Salthouse.  I know how much these new homes mean to the village.”