Buyers show greater appetite for green homesEnergy efficiency and high environmental standards are now among the most important features buyers look for in a newly-built homes, according to a YouGov survey carried out for the New Homes Marketing Board (NHMB).
The ‘green factor’ has climbed into the top three on the list of criteria that buyers demand, overtaking more traditional attributes such as location and value-for-money.
David Pretty, chairman of the NHMB, said: “People now increasingly understand that almost all new homes are built to the latest mainstream environmental standards and are vastly more energy-efficient, and therefore generally much cheaper to run, than second-hand homes. In fact, just last year the National Energy Service confirmed that new homes are already 60 per cent more efficient than older ones, and are improving all the time as we move towards zero-carbon over the next few years.
“This survey shows that this is exactly what people want and expect from a new home. We have been saying for some years that new homes are already ‘green’ homes – certainly the greenest that you can go out and buy from the open market at any one time. That message is getting through more strongly than ever,” added Pretty.
The NHMB’s YouGov survey asked respondents to select features they considered most important if they were buying a newly-built home. At 41 per cent, the category combining energy efficiency and high environmental standards was the third most important attribute chosen.
Provision of a garden or outdoor space was placed first, at 53 per cent, and second (47 per cent) was a garage or private off-street parking. Other high-scoring categories were overall value-for-money (33 per cent) and fully-fitted contemporary kitchens and bathrooms (31 per cent).
Swansea eco scheme gets go ahead
Work is due to start later this year on a £7.5 million affordable eco-housing development in Swansea, which has received planning consent from the city council.
Plot D5A, designed by Holder Mathias Architects for the Coastal Housing Group, will be a five-storey development consisting of 69 apartments overlooking The Prince of Wales Dock. The new development has been part funded by the Welsh Assembly Government as well as Coastal Housing.
It has been designed to meet the Code for Sustainable Homes 4* rating and will feature a ‘brown’ roof to encourage biodiversity, and the latest in energy efficient technology in heating, lighting and hot water. Geoff Pettifor, director of development at Coastal Housing said: “These apartments will be among the most sustainable in Wales. The environmentally aware design will be incredibly fuel efficient, helping to reduce fuel poverty for residents.”
This news item courtesy of Tailored Home.
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