Our Planning and Sustainable Development service has won an Essex Housing Award. The team picked up the award in the Climate Action – Low / Zero Carbon in New Homes category. This was for its ambitious Net Zero Carbon New Homes work.
We had further success in the awards, with Essex Housing, its in-house development arm, winning the Meeting Housing Need Award. The awards also recognised the council’s Essex Careers Magazine for its contribution to construction skills.
Last week’s win celebrates the collaboration between the pan-Essex Climate & Planning Unit (CaPU) and chief planners from the Essex Planning Officers Association (EPOA). Together, they are working to make Net Zero Carbon (NZC) new homes an affordable reality in Essex by 2025.
A regional campaign to remove stamp duty from NZC homes is a key component of this work. Officers have also supported district, borough and city councils to embed NZC housing policies into their updated Local Plans.
An increase in the number of NZC new homes could see:
- healthier homes, that are cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter
- reduced pressure on the national grid
- more affordable energy bills
- lower reliance on finite resources
The Essex Careers Magazine was highly commended in the ‘Excellence in Construction Skills’ category. The panel celebrated the resource for its inclusive, county-wide approach.
This free resource showcases local employers and training providers. You can also find different entry routes into growing sectors.
Essex Housing’s efforts to build specialist, affordable and private homes were also recognised. Essex Housing works with partners to identify public sector land and offer development management for new homes.
Find out more about the 2023 Essex Housing Awards.
