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Using cutting edge technology to tackle overcrowding

News release - 13 December 2011

Westminster uses cutting edge technology to tackle overcrowding

Westminster City Council officials handed over the keys to two brand new, eco-friendly and sustainable homes to two severely overcrowded Queen’s Park families last week.

The four-bedroom properties, built in Queen’s Park by CityWest Homes, who manage Westminster’s housing stock, and charity Westminster Community Homes, contain the very latest in environmental technology and bring much needed large family-sized accommodation into the city.

The first local authority-led houses to be built in Westminster for 30 years, they feature some of the best products currently on the market including wall insulation, windows, roof and flooring which are, on average, a third better than required in the latest building regulations.

They also feature the latest environmental technology including heat meters, solar panels, interior recycling bins, water butts and LED bulbs to keep energy costs low when prices are on the rise. Queen’s Park has a high level of fuel poverty.

Heating and hot water is provided by a connection to the local community heating network and can be temperature controlled by the resident to help them manage their energy use and costs.

Housing bosses officially handed over the keys to the new residents – Rhoda Abdullahi and her six children who moved from a three-bedroom flat, and Hussein Salloub and Rania Zaidan and their five children who moved from a two-bedroom maisonette. Both families are Queen’s Park locals.

Settling in, Rhoda Abdullahi said she and her children are thrilled with their new home.

She said: “I didn’t tell them we were moving so when we walked in, they all cried they were so happy. Our home is so amazing, we are very happy here.”

CityWest Homes’ sustainability expert, Peter Armfield, visited Ms Abdullahi and explained how to use the new technology and maximise the free electricity generated by the solar panels during the day, making sure it was used within the home rather than put back into the electricity grid.

He said: “Staggering the use of electricity throughout the day and avoiding using products that consume large amounts of energy at the same time, like the oven and the iron, can really help.

“Ms Abdullahi immediately understood the potential and that by making a few small changes in her daily routine she could reduce her electricity bills.

“Some people think that this type of technology is scary, but it is very easy and simple to use.”

Councillor Jonathan Glanz, Westminster Council’s cabinet member for housing and corporate property, said: “I’m delighted that we are able address the issue of overcrowding and accommodate Westminster families into these comfortable and sustainable homes.

“Particularly at a time of increasing overcrowding, we have to both address the needs of our residents and environmental concerns in more innovative ways.

“Through the use of cutting edge eco-technology we have created a unique development that maximises both space and energy to produce the ideal inner-city balance.”

Dave Harrison, director of property and development for CityWest Homes, said: “In the long term future we hope to install more energy and cost saving devices, like heat meters, in all of our buildings and educate residents about how to maximise their use.

“Not only will this help residents to lower their fuel costs but hopefully help change people’s behaviour toward energy saving.”

-Ends-

For more information please contact Veronica Matheson, corporate communications adviser on 0207 245 2540 or vmatheson@cwh.org.uk.

Pictured: Rhoda Abdullahi receives the keys from housing bosses. From left: Ben Denton (Westminster Council’s strategic director of housing regeneration and worklessness), Councillor Jonathan Glanz, Rhoda Abdullahi, Steve Moore (Westminster Community Homes), Dave Harrison (CityWest Homes), Mark Jones and Carol Waithe-Williams (Westminster Community Homes board members).