THE development of a new build low carbon housing estate has been officially launched in a town in Cornwall. 

The Mayor of Redruth joined Cornwall Council Chief Executive Kate Kennally and Cornish developer Treveth to celebrate the official opening of the landmark new homes scheme, Gwel Basset, in Tolgus, Redruth.

All 185 homes at Gwel Bassett have been designed by Treveth to meet operational energy saving targets set by the industry for 2030.

Measures have been put in place to design the carbon out of these homes which include no fossil fuel heating; using air source heat pumps and solar panels as standard, low energy LED lighting, timber frames from certified sources, Cornish air-cured concrete blocks made with secondary aggregate and more insulation in the floors, walls and roofs.

Research from the smart energy and sustainability team at Hydrock has revealed homes at Gwel Basset will use up to 73% less energy a year compared to an average three bedroom house in the UK.

Redruth Town Mayor Matthew Brown, Chief Executive of Cornwall Council Kate Kennally, Cllr Olly Monk, Cllr Stephen Barnes and Managing Director of Treveth Tim Mulholland cut the ceremonial ribbon at Treveth’s Tolgus development.

Key members of the Treveth team, members of Cornwall Council and Treveth’s build partner Countryside Partnerships were all in attendance at the special reception at which guests had the first opportunity to look around the new show home.

The launch event gave attendees the opportunity to find out more about Treveth’s first residential scheme that the developer is building under its own design and sustainability manual, in addition to finding out more about how these energy-efficient homes are helping to address the housing shortage for local people in Cornwall.

Construction is well underway at Gwel Basset, close to the A30, and Treveth has already taken several reservations from local home buyers for its open market homes.

Developers say Gwel Basset will deliver 185 new homes with a mix of one, two, three and four bedroom homes available to those who live, work in or have family connections in the immediate vicinity of the site.

There will be 90 homes for private rent, 22 for open market sale, 26 affordable rent and 12 shared ownership with 35 homes being provided to Cornwall Council.

Tim Mulholland, Managing Director at Treveth, said: "We were pleased to welcome the Mayor of Redruth and Kate Kennally along with local Councillors to launch Gwel Basset. This is a real milestone as it is our first residential scheme which is being delivered under our own design and sustainability manual. 

"With these bespoke modern, distinctively Cornish, homes designed to suit to the local climate, we’ve taken the lead in advancing low carbon design and technologies, tackling fuel poverty and encouraging sustainable living. These homes mark the start of Treveth’s ambition to continue building energy-efficient, low carbon homes for local people across Cornwall."

Treveth is working with Bradleys Estate Agents to arrange appointments for house hunters interested in open market homes to view the show home.

Viewings for shared ownership and rental homes will be taken by Treveth at a later date when new homes will be ready to view.

Countryside Partnerships is working in partnership with Treveth to deliver these new build homes to Cornish people.