20 July 2010
Two Castles helps local resident move into a green new home
Kirsty Thomas and her two sons, Casey and Taylor, in their new home at Higher Grange
A Grange over Sands resident has moved into a new, eco-friendly home in South Lakeland, thanks to Two Castles Housing Association.
Kirsty Thomas and her two sons, four year old Casey and 17 month old Taylor, now live in a two bedroom house at Higher Grange - a site of eleven high quality, affordable Two Castles Housing Association properties on Grange Fell Road. She applied to the Association for housing after a recommendation from her brother who lives in a Two Castles home in Windermere.
Kirsty said: “I have lived in Grange over Sands for most of my life, but the high cost of housing in the area was a huge concern for me. My previous home was an older property, which was not suitable for the children as it had no garden and poor insulation.
“Moving here will make a huge difference to my family and I as we are not only closer to my mother, but the children now also have a garden in which to play. The kids love their new home and we very much look forward to spending many happy years here.”
All of the high quality, affordable houses at Higher Grange meet the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3, the national standard for the sustainable design and construction of new homes, and include energy efficient solar panels to provide hot water as well as compost bins and cycle storage.
Kirsty added: “I’m really pleased with my new house as it is great to be able to teach the children about the importance of caring for the environment and the ways that they can do their bit towards reducing their carbon footprint, from recycling to composting.”
Two Castles Housing Association worked in partnership with Russell Armer Homes based in Kendal and South Lakeland District Council on the Higher Grange development and received £780,000 funding from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) towards the scheme.
Rob Brittain, property services director of Two Castles Housing Association, said: “There is a high demand for affordable housing in South Lakeland. Many people are being forced to move out of the area due to high prices in the marketplace – more than ten times the average salary - and the demand for second or holiday homes. Two Castles is committed to providing high quality homes and we are delighted to see people like Kirsty and her two children benefit.”
