A family of five are the lucky tenants of a new eco house in Summerfield Eco Village, Birmingham’s first eco neighbourhood.

The Khennaoui family have been tenants of Family Housing Association (Birmingham) Ltd for five years and were selected for their new eco house from the Association’s transfer waiting list. The eco house is one of five that has been refurbished and provided by Family for affordable rent in the Summerfield neighbourhood in North West Birmingham.   

The deconversions are part of a £2.3 million renewable energy project run by Family Housing in partnership with Birmingham City Council and Urban Living, the Birmingham/Sandwell Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder.

The programme has resulted in a wide range of environmental improvements in the area, such as the installation of free solar panels to over 300 homes.

The five eco homes are all older Victorian properties which were converted into flats in the 1970’s and  have been given a new lease of life and de-converted into much needed large family homes. They follow on from the successful opening of Family Housing’s first eco house in June 2006 and have been allocated to tenants from Family Housing and Birmingham City Council.

The cost of re-furbishing the properties was funded by the Housing Corporation and with Family Housing’s own funding of £25,000 and an additional cash injection of £125,000 from Urban Living. All five properties have been fitted with extra environmentally friendly features so they achieve the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) Sustainable Homes Standard Code level 3 and level 4.   

In addition to installing solar hot water systems in over 300 properties, a number of innovative technologies have been piloted to make these new de-converted homes green, including installing solar photovoltaic panels which generate electricity, grey water recycling and air source heat pumps together with a range of other features such as sunpipes, high performance insulation made from recycled paper, denim and sheeps wool, kitchens made from recycled materials, A plus rated white goods, low energy lighting and water saving devices.

Mrs Kennaoui, her partner Carlton Youngsam and their children have now moved in and are settling into their new eco house.

A delighted Ouarda Khennaoui said “This is a dream house!  We love it because it meets all our needs and the recycling and energy efficiency features are making a difference to our fuel bills. Everything has been improved to a really high standard with the kitchen being especially well planned and the loft conversion providing us with even more space. I just can’t imagine how this house was previously split into flats!”

David Stevenson, Family Housing’s Director of Investment, Assets and Regeneration, said “We are delighted that Mrs Khennaoui and her family are happy with their new home.  This property is one of five new eco show homes developed using cutting edge ‘green’ technologies and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to developing Summerfield as Birmingham’s first Eco Neighbourhood and continues to push the boundaries in terms of testing new technologies when refurbishing existing homes.”  

Steve Lilley, Urban Living Director of Programme & Performance, added: ”The Summerfield eco-area is an excellent example of how you can radically transform a neighbourhood though partnership working and the involvement of local people. Early indications are already showing that the improvements being made really are making a difference to people’s lives by reducing fuel bills.”