Hastoe Housing Association has been celebrating the official openings of two of its sustainable, rural housing developments in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. It’s the first time in 18 months of Covid lockdowns and restrictions that the development team has been able to get out to mark the completion of new homes that showcase Hastoe’s continuing work on bespoke, small developments in rural areas of southern England.

Both developments at Lavenham and Burwell are also great examples of the New-Build Standard that Hastoe launched earlier this year. The Standard sets out minimum build requirements for their new homes, which exceed current building regulations, in terms of energy efficiency, sustainability, beautiful design and environmental impact. It’s also earned them a place on Housing Digital’s list of Top 30 Sustainable Housing Providers for 2021.

Hastoe has also recently launched its new Design Guidance, which supports its Build Beautiful ambition within the New-Build Standard. This guidance is attracting attention within the sector where it outlines clearly and consistently what Hastoe expects from architects and contractors designing and building new Hastoe homes - and what build partners can expect from Hastoe as well.

Ulrike Maccariello, Development Director says: “The focus with our New-Build Standard and our Design Guidance is to address issues of carbon reduction, fuel poverty, comfort and energy efficiency for our residents. The new homes in Burwell and Lavenham meet this through fabric energy-efficiency, air tightness and ventilation which will benefit our residents in the long term. Our overarching aim is to meet the net zero carbon agenda through reduced energy demand that benefits our residents as well as the planet."

Together Hastoe’s New-Build Standard and Design Guidance combine their collective experience of building high quality, rural homes, with their continuing ambition to reduce the carbon footprint of their dwellings and provide affordable and comfortable homes for residents – all as cost effectively as possible. Hastoe’s aim is to gain greater control and knowledge of all aspects of their developments, from the early design stages through to construction. They believe that this stronger focus on quality control is crucial and will also improve their residents’ experience of living in a Hastoe home.

Images

1. Hastoe house in Brancaster, Norfolk
2. Hastoe house in Powerstock, Dorset – image used above
3. Affordable homes at Peek Close in Lavenham
4. James Cartlidge MP celebrates the official opening of Peek Close, Lavenham with representatives from Hastoe, Lavenham CLT, Lavenham Parish Council, Babergh & Mid Suffolk District Councils, Potter Raper, & DCH Construction.
5. Affordable homes at Field View in Burwell
6. Roger Thompson, Director of Housing & Developme nt at Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority cuts the ribbon at Field View, Burwell with representatives from Hastoe, Burwell Parish Council, East Cambridge District Council, AECOM, and DCH Construction.
7. Hastoe’s Design Guidance cover