Altrincham homes could be silver lining in fuel bills cloud

With threats that household gas bills could soar by more than 60% over the next few years, anything which promises to help home owners reduce their fuel costs has to be welcomed.

Homes at Stamford Brook, in Altrincham, which include in-built measures to make them even more energy efficient than a standard new home, look even more attractive in the wake of a report from the UK's biggest domestic energy supplier Centrica, which claimed annual average gas bills could rise from £600 to more than £1,000 early in the next decade.

Patsy Aicken, sales director for Redrow Homes (North West) - joint developers of Stamford Brook alongside Bryant Homes, in association with the National Trust - said: "A brand new home is already said to be up to four times more energy efficient than its older second hand counterpart thanks to modern standards of insulation and more efficient heating systems.

"At Stamford Brook, however, all of the homes have been specially designed to minimise energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. This has been achieved through highly insulated buildings, the use of efficient heating and ventilation systems, constructing dwellings to be more airtight and carefully planned layouts which limit overshadowing to maximise solar gain."

Purchasers already settling into their new homes at Stamford Brook will possibly be ‘thanking their lucky stars' they had the foresight to invest in such a forward-thinking development, given the unhappy news from Centrica last week that continuing high oil prices could lead to further rises in the cost of both gas and electricity.

Elaine Smith, sales manager for Bryant Homes, says: "The properties at Stamford Brook give home owners the opportunity to reduce their electricity, gas and water usage, and, with that, the chance to save on bills - and it's all done in such a way that they really don't have to think about it. Stamford Brook is not about futuristic technology; these are traditionally constructed properties that look and feel like any other new home, but the extra steps we've taken in their design and construction makes them more efficient."

The good news for those not already on board and worrying about rising fuel costs is that they can still join the community at Stamford Brook, an award winning venture on land which once formed part of the National Trust's Dunham Massey estate.

Between them Bryant and Redrow have a wide selection of new homes for sale, including two-bedroom apartments and three and four-bedroom homes, with prices from as little as £134,950 to just under £500,000, making it suitable for everyone from first time buyers and young professionals to growing families and downsizers.

As well as in-built measures to make the homes themselves more ‘green', the development also benefits from some impressive greenery in its surroundings, thanks to seven hectares of community woodland, wildlife corridors, orchards and open spaces. It also includes Sinderland Brook, a previously canalised watercourse that has been transformed into a river corridor providing a valuable habitat for a variety of birds and animals.

The landscaped setting belies its close proximity to the bustling town of Altrincham and easy access to Manchester city centre, with the nearest Metrolink tram station just a 10-minute cycle ride or short bus journey away.

For more information on homes available, log on to Bryant.co.uk.