Meadow Cottages, Brassington - client: NCHA

A Parish Need Survey carried out in 2005 by Derbyshire Dales District Council revealed that at least 20 people were in need of affordable housing in this picturesque Peak Park village. Brassington is a victim of its own success, in that most of the affordable housing has been bought up, developed and sold off as second homes.

Following the results of this survey, NCHA and the District Council, supported by Brassington Parish Council, worked together to build four 2-bedroom houses in the village. The properties have been designed by NCHA architects and built by Westleigh Developments, using locally sourced stone material to remain sympathetic to nearby buildings which included the village school. Two of the NCHA properties will be rented accommodation and the other two will be under shared ownership.

All four properties have been built with environmentally friendly ground source heat pumps, in partnership with e.on. The technology, known as HeatPlant, makes use of renewable energy stored in the ground. On average, for every unit of electricity used to pump the heat, 2.5-4 units of heat are produced. It costs less to run than any traditional system heated by electricity (the village is too high up for mains gas). Savings of 25-50% in running costs are possible.

Facts and Figures

Total cost of development: £735,178

Local Authority Funding: £40,000

Discounted L/A land: £40,000

NCHA contribution: £221,874

Eon Grant for Heat Pumps: £43,304

Housing Corporation grant: £210,000

General Needs Rented: Two x 2-bed houses

Shared Ownership: Two x 2-bed houses

Architect: NCHA Architects

Developer: Westleigh Developments

Local Authority: Derbyshire Dales District Council, Brassington Parish Council.