The funding for Lower Wear Road is part of an overall £911,000 that will see four projects across Devon benefit from government funding. All four projects are on brownfield sites.

Brownfield Land Release Funding

The Devon and Torbay One Public Estate Partnership successfully secured the money from the Brownfield Land Release Funding to support the projects.

The funding is a share of £35.9 million awarded to English councils to enable the release of council brownfield land for housing.

Working with Exeter Prison offenders to construct the modular homes

The scheme will allow 15 affordable homes to be built using a modular build approach. It is the first scheme of its type that Exeter has put forward for Brownfield Land Release Funding and it will also use the Prisoners Building Homes programme, working with Exeter Prison offenders to construct the modular homes.

Cllr Barbara Denning, Lead Councillor with responsibility for Council Housing, said: “I am delighted with this funding which will help deliver much-needed affordable housing in the city.”

Delivering 500 new Council Housing homes by 2030

The Lower Wear Road scheme is one of a number of sites that the Council are investigating for the delivery of new build, low-energy, council housing. This site forms part of the overall Housing Revenue Account development programme, with the aim of delivering 500 new Council Housing homes by 2030.

Other projects across the county set to benefit from the funding are:

Shapland Place and St Andrews Estate. Mid Devon District Council. Creation of 14 affordable modular homes.

St Kildas Brixham – Torbay Council.

Provide 23 affordable homes to be delivered by 2025.
Councillor Rufus Gilbert, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Recovery and Skills, said: “I’m pleased that a number of areas across Devon and Torbay will benefit from this latest round of funding and we’ll be bidding for more in future rounds. The One Public Estate programme is ensuring vital gap funding is making it possible for these essential housing projects to go ahead which is good news for local residents and our local economy.”

The Devon & Torbay One Public Estate partnership is made up of 10 local authorities (Devon County Council, East Devon District Council, Exeter City Council, Mid Devon District Council, North Devon Council, South Hams District Council, Teignbridge District Council, Torbay Council, Torridge District Council and West Devon Borough Council) as well as the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, Devon & Cornwall Police, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, the NHS, and South Western Ambulance Service.

The Brownfield Land Release Fund is administered through the One Public Estate programme which is a partnership between the Office of Government Property in the Cabinet Office, the Local Government Association and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

£180 million in capital grants will be available

Up to £180 million in capital grants will be available through Brownfield Land Release Funding over the next three years. The Devon and Torbay One Public Estate Partnership is currently developing a plan for the later rounds.

Air Testing Exeter – Air Permeability Test

Air testing is part of the Building Regulations and helps to reduce C02 emissions. Excessive air leakage can cause poor energy efficiency and result in increased energy bills. Keeping the building as airtight as possible is essential.

The air test measures the amount of air that is lost through gaps in the building envelope. It is a vital part of the process to ensure that all new dwellings comply with Part L of the Building Regulations.

If you are looking for a qualified company to conduct an air test on your property, Ratio Seven are here to help. We offer a range of services and will advise you on the best way to keep your dwelling as airtight as possible.

Why You Need Air Testing For New Builds

When you build a new property in Exeter, Devon, you need to pass air permeability testing. This is a critical phase of construction. A leakier house uses more energy, emits more CO2 and is more expensive to run.

Air permeability testing can also help with the overall energy rating of the property. It is a valuable part of the overall energy audit and should be considered early in the planning process. The Building Regulations require this test on all new developments.

Increasingly, there is a demand for air permeability tests in Exeter. There are qualified testing experts who can help with the process.

When you are building a new residential property, you need to comply with Part L of the Building Regulations. These regulations state that you must ensure that the Air Permeability of your home is less than 5 m3h-1m-2.