Sheffield City Council has begun a practical ambitious net-zero social housing scheme. This effort is intended to help the city address extreme housing cost burdens and rising homelessness in the city. The program is scheduled to rollout its first units by the end of this month. This is a big win for the council in what has been a quarter century long effort to produce more affordable housing.
The exhibition has a huge model of the scheme, which includes six new homes, all modular-constructed and manufactured and first assembled in the Graves Park area of Sheffield. These properties provide a wide array of benefits beyond housing. On days when they produce more than they need, the surplus in energy is contributed to the national grid. Their ingenuity in delivering this solution dovetails perfectly with Sheffield’s aspiration to be a great place to live, whatever your age.
As the person who chairs Sheffield City Council’s housing policy committee, Douglas Johnson is walking the talk. He’s adamant about getting these homes distributed equitably throughout the city. What he was getting at, I think, was the idea that housing should serve to reduce the financial pressure residents are under.
“This is the sort of home we want to see rolled out across the city.” – Councillor Douglas Johnson
The effort couldn’t come at a better time. Sheffield and the rest of the UK are experiencing a housing crisis where property prices are skyhigh and homelessness is increasing. With over 38,000 council houses already in its inventory, Sheffield City Council recognizes the urgent need to build more homes to meet growing demand.
The new properties are specifically targeted to serve as homes for the most vulnerable tenants, including folks who have experienced homelessness. Ann Seipp from Homes England highlighted the potential impact of the scheme, stating that these homes can assist vulnerable individuals in “moving on and taking stock of their lives.”
Councillor Johnson again echoed the council’s intent in building these homes, focussing on improving the quality of life of those who live there.
“It’s all about the homes that people deserve – where they don’t need to worry about bills.” – Councillor Douglas Johnson
This net-zero housing scheme is an example of long-term planning toward an innovative and sustainable social housing option in Sheffield. By incorporating sustainable practices while tackling acute housing needs, the council hopes to create a model for future developments of this nature.
