New council houses progressing well

Work is progressing well on nine new energy efficient council houses which will include all-electric heating, solar panels, and batteries to store as much energy from the sun as possible.

The new homes in Goldthorpe are a mix of bungalows and houses. They will be built to the council’s energy-efficient specification. This includes electric air source heat pumps providing heat and hot water, and solar panels and batteries to take advantage of renewable energy. Storing the electricity in batteries means the residents will benefit from power from the sun even when the sun isn’t shining. 

The council has secured more than £23.1m investment to Regenerate, Renew and Revitalise Goldthorpe, Thurnscoe and Bolton upon Dearne through the government’s Towns Fund. Part of this includes a new town square at the heart of Goldthorpe which provides a more prominent location for the market.

This allowed the former market site on Market Street to be developed for high-quality council housing. Funding to support this came from the Towns Fund early intervention funding. This was funding made available in advance before Goldthorpe was awarded its main £23.1m Towns Fund investment.

A new area of public green space within the development will link to the adjacent terraced streets where further Towns Fund investment is planned to improve the local area.

Cllr Robert Frost, Cabinet spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, said: “We’re investing in our Principal Towns and Local Centres right across the borough, and this investment in high-quality housing is excellent news for Goldthorpe.

“It supports our wider plans to regenerate, renew and revitalise Goldthorpe, Thurnscoe and Bolton through Towns Fund investment, and it will provide high-quality housing to families who need it.

“I’m delighted we’re able to build these houses with such great attention to energy efficiency. This helps make sure tenants minimise their energy bills, while also helping us work towards our goal for a more sustainable Barnsley. It’s another step on our journey to a net-zero carbon Barnsley by 2045.”

Arturo Gulla, Executive Director of Property Services at Berneslai Homes, said: “We’re delighted to see work progressing well on these nine houses. Growing homes and services and zero carbon are two of our six ambitions, and it’s great to see these new energy efficient homes being built to provide excellent homes for the people on our waiting list.”

For more information on the Towns Fund deal in Goldthorpe, please click here.

Photo caption from left to right: Sara Scholes, Barnsley Council Project Manager, Matthew Stephens, member of Goldthorpe Towns Fund Board, Cllr Sue Bellamy, Cllr Robert Frost, Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, Terry Kane, Neighbourhood Office, Andy Marshall, O&P Construction Contracts Director, Matthew Young, Barnsley Council Architectural Technologist, Luke Fulwood, O&P Construction Site Manager. 

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