Construction work has re-started on the council’s energy-efficient housing development at Billingsley View, Bolton upon Dearne.

The work was due to be completed in April 2023, however, it was delayed when the original contractor went into administration.

We have been working hard over the last few months to appoint a replacement contractor to finish the project.

We are now pleased to confirm that William Birch and Sons Limited has taken over the project. Work started again on Monday 24 July 2023, and is expected to complete in October 2023. The new homes will be let and managed by Berneslai Homes.

The development of 16 houses will show how homes can be built to use less energy and be more sustainable for the environment. It is the pilot for the Barnsley Low Carbon Standard new build specification.

The council’s project team has worked with Leeds Sustainability Institute, part of Leeds Beckett University, to design these highly energy-efficient properties. Once complete, ongoing monitoring will measure the success of the design specification and keep track of the cost savings for tenants.

Each house will get its heating and hot water from an air-source heat pump. Each will also generate electricity from solar panels with battery storage so that energy from the sun can be stored and used when needed, plus electric vehicle charging points.

Cllr Robert Frost, Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, said: “The government requires us to deliver at least 900 additional homes a year, and we want to achieve this through sustainable, quality housing so you can live in the right house for you.

“We know there is a demand for affordable housing in this area, and these high-quality new homes will directly contribute to the council’s ambitions for Growing Barnsley, Healthy Barnsley and Sustainable Barnsley through providing safe, warm and sustainable homes.”