Award nod for green housing development

A GREEN housing development partially funded by the city council is in the running for a national award.

The Quarries, a 7 million development funded by the council and Dunedin Canmore Housing Association on an old limestone quarry in Gilmerton, has made the shortlist for sustainable larger housing project of the year in the UK Sustainable Housing Awards.

The Hyvots Mill Road scheme provides accommodation for 58 older people and boasts underfloor heating, photovoltaic roof panels, a communal gas-fired heating system and a passive solar corridor where the air is warmed by the sun then circulated to help heat the flats.

Eco-friendly products used in its construction include recycled Marmoleum flooring, non-toxic paints, plus timber cladding, kits and windows from FSC-certified forests.

Councillor Paul Edie, the city's housing leader, said: "The council and other public bodies have demanding targets to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency. The Quarries is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when local authorities work with the private sector."