The construction of four new family homes has been completed in Harpenden, as St Albans council aims to increase social housing across the district.

The three-bedroom properties in Viking Close, off Noke Shot, were constructed on a "little used" garage site owned by St Albans City & District Council.

They have now been offered to people on the local authority's housing register who are in need of larger accommodation.

With an emphasis on sustainability, the new homes have been equipped with several sustainable features to reduce harmful carbon emissions.

Herts Advertiser: Cllr Taylor with Cllr De Kort. Cllr Taylor with Cllr De Kort. (Image: St Albans City and District Council)

These include air source heat pumps instead of gas boilers, solar panels and electric vehicle charging points.

As a result, the government's top energy rating of A has been awarded, with the homes likely to produce only 0.8 tonnes of carbon emissions a year, compared to the household average of six.

Bat and bird boxes were installed and 22 trees were planted on the site.

By 2030, St Albans council aim to reduce emissions across the district to net zero.

Cllr Jacqui Taylor said: "One of our priorities as a council is to provide more social housing in the District.

“The outstanding, high-quality homes we have delivered in Viking Close is a demonstration of that commitment.

“I am delighted that four growing households now have the homes they need while four other households on our Housing Register can move into the homes they have vacated.”

Cllr Paul De Kort added: "These houses have been delivered by us despite the financial pressures that we are faced with in common with other local authorities.

SUGGESTED READING

“It is so important to provide new social housing in an area like Harpenden where house prices are extremely high and out of the reach of most people.

“As a council, we have produced more than 70 social rent homes in the past ten years across the District on former garage sites.

“In doing so, we have also placed an emphasis on sustainability as the solar panels and air source heat pumps at Viking Close show.”