The homes at Britannia House and Earl’s House were built with Skillcrown Homes and come with solar panels, heat-recovery systems and bat and swift boxes.
Maidstone Borough Council has taken ownership of 40 affordable homes at Britannia House and Earl’s House on Granville Road in the town centre, built in partnership with Skillcrown Homes on previously underused sites.
The two developments have been designed with a range of energy features, including solar panels, electric heating systems, heat-recovery technology and water-efficient fittings. The council says the homes are intended to be energy efficient, potentially lowering residents’ energy bills.
Alongside the housing, bat and swift boxes have been installed to provide nesting and roosting space for protected wildlife, and new planters have been placed around both developments.
What the council and developer said
Cllr Simon Wales, Maidstone Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, said: “Having a safe and secure home can make such a difference to someone’s life, and that is what makes developments like these so important.”
He added: “We also have a responsibility to think about the kind of places we are creating for the future. That means homes that are better for the environment, but also making room for the wildlife that shares our town. I’m proud that we’re doing both here.”
Matt Arnold, Land and Development Director at Skillcrown Homes, said: “We’re delighted to have completed another 40 much-needed affordable homes in the town centre and we hope people enjoy living here for many years to come.”
He said: “This project marks another important milestone in our excellent working relationship with the council, with 83 homes now completed across three sites and a further 41 in the pipeline.”
The completions form part of Maidstone Borough Council’s target to deliver 1,000 affordable homes over ten years, working with partners. Residents are expected to move in soon.