Eco-friendly Housing

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In 2006, Community Lincs were invited by Bicker Parish Council to conduct a Housing Needs Survey of the parish, to establish whether there was a need for affordable housing to be provided for local people. The survey was carried out in January and February 2007 and identified a need for 11 properties in the short term (within 12 months) and a further 6 within 5 years.

Lincolnshire Rural Housing Association had already built a development of 12 properties at St. Swithins Close, and the survey was used to support a second phase of a further 12 properties, which has been called Bishop Way.

The properties are not what you would expect to find in a rural Lincolnshire village. They are Swedish Village Concept Cottages, which utilise the very latest technology and design to offer high quality, ecological living.

The properties are designed to combat fuel poverty. They are airtight structures, which use full house mechanical ventilation heat recovery systems to give a constant flow of filtered, pre-warmed incoming air. Not only does the system provide an efficient heating system for the whole house, but the filtered air means that air born dust and dirt are removed, improving the health of the residents, and reducing the amount of cleaning required! Timber floors rather than carpets also reduce the house dust mite population. One of the residents of the new development has said "My son has hay fever and by now he would normally be suffering. He seems much better this year up to now, so the filtration system is really helping. Ours is a lovely comfortable house that is easy to look after and keep clean." In addition to the ventilation system, the properties also boast triple glazed windows, and fully insulated floors, walls and party walls.

Other features of these sustainable properties include solar panels, water based stains, varnishes and glues, and elements that are fully salvageable or recyclable at the completion of the life-span of the building.