A development of nine energy-efficient family homes which will help provide affordable housing have reached the ‘topping out’ stage with the installation of solar panels.
St Joseph’s Court on Sladebrook Road, Southdown, is being built by Aequus, the Bath & North East Somerset Council’s construction and development company, which was set up to help deliver sustainable homes to meet local demand. 
Aequus, which acquired the site from the Diocese of Clifton, describes the scheme as an exemplar development.
It includes six three-bedroom houses and three four-bedroom houses, two of which will be affordable homes.
Named after the former church on the site, St Joseph’s Court is being built to AECB Energy Efficient Building Standard, which reduces overall CO2 emissions by 70% compared to the UK average for similar buildings.
The houses, which will shortly go on the market, will be very low-carbon and have a range of energy-efficient measures including air-source heat pumps and solar panels.
The addition of the solar panels to the homes, pictured, acted as the ‘topping out’ for the scheme – the traditional ceremony in any construction project when the shell of the building is finished. It was also a milestone for low-energy housing development in Bath ahead.
Cabinet member for housing, planning and economic development Tim Ball said: “These new homes are exemplary for sustainability and low carbon and will provide much-needed family and affordable housing in the heart of Bath.
“The development leads the way for energy efficiency and supports Bath and North East Somerset to reach its zero-carbon goal by 2030.
“I look forward to seeing local families being able to enjoy these affordable homes when they are completed later this year.”
Aequus is also behind the redevelopment of the council’s former offices in Keynsham into 95 contemporary studio, one and two-bedroom apartments.
The scheme is a key part of the regeneration of Keynsham. Some 91 of the 95 apartments have now been sold.
