High Ongar, Essex

Affordable Homes Programme 2011-15

We’ve invested £92K AHP

funding in 4 homes

Working with Hastoe Housing Association

Two 2-bedroom & two 3-bedroom

straw bale houses

This is a

first for a housing association

Timber framed homes, in-filled

with the straw bales

The walls have been covered externally

with a lime render

Fuel costs at

around 85% cheaper than the average costs for heating similar homes of traditional construction &

CO2 emissions are reduced by

around 60%

Scheme created training opportunities

Trainee gained experience

in a complex foundation design to hold the buildings down

Bricklayers had a NVQ level 2 trainee to

construct the

brickwork to

accommodate the straw bale structure

3 people

trained on fitting/cutting & securing

straw bale structure to the timber frame

“This is a great example of the government’s investment in housing in rural areas.

This innovativedevelopment makes good use of the available land to provide attractive, sustainable and economical homes that the residents are clearly very happy with”

Becky Ashley, HCA Strategy Manager

“The High Ongar straw bales scheme is an exemplar project.

Sustainability is a key

part of our approach… We have been through

an extensive design and planning process to ensure that the new homes will be a real benefit to the

community”Sue Chalkley, Chief Executive, Hastoe

“We have a lot of family in

High Ongar and I have lived here since I was 14. Since living in our Hastoe home our lives have

improved.

Our family are over the moon that we are close by. My grandmother is housebound, so I can visit her as much as possible…my father is 5 minutes down the road.

It’s a fantastic house and we couldn’t wish for

better. It is cool in

the summer and

warm in winter”

Mrs Austin, resident

More info on AHP?GOV.UK

@HCA_UK