Best partnership – up to 100 homes

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Nexa Fields is a groundbreaking development of 40 homes in the village of Pinhoe, just outside Exeter, whose residents will pay absolutely nothing for their energy thanks to cutting-edge green technology.

 

These homes have an Energy Performance Certificate score of 129, putting them among the most energy-efficient in the UK. They were designed and built by zero-carbon specialist developer Verto Homes.

 

Each home is kitted out with air source heat pumps, batteries and solar panels, making them eligible for project partner Octopus Energy’s ‘zero bills’ tariff, which guarantees no energy bills for residents for up to 10 years.

 

Six of the homes have been bought as housing for social rent by 85,000-home housing assocation SNG. Nexa Fields is the first development of its kind, but the model it exemplifies is making waves throughout the country.

 

Today, more than 25 house builders and more than 55 housing associations are forming partnerships to deliver zero-bills housing. The pipeline is already significant, with more than 1,000 new builds under development and more than 8,000 homes assessed for retrofit.

 

The judges said:

“The partnership brought together renewable technology and housing delivery in a way that directly addressed fuel poverty, with residents reporting significantly lower energy bills. The challenges this collaboration overcame highlight its strength”