A NEW small housing development in Ellesmere Port will include hedgehog highways and highly efficient new homes with electric car charging points and solar panels.

The seven, four-bedroom detached homes at Lime Tree Grange, Cheshire Oaks, Little Stanney, will feature a new specification designed to achieve an Energy Performance Certificate A-rating, making them more efficient to run and kinder to the environment.

Reflecting Archway’s commitment to a sustainable future the changes will be funded by the homebuilder.

Rachael Whelan, land and sustainability director at Archway Homes, said: “As a result of people like David Attenborough, the damage being caused to our planet is now widely recognised. There is a growing movement for people to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle to help lessen our impact. This includes car manufacturers, supermarkets etc.

“The housing industry has the ability to lead the sustainable agenda, and to clearly demonstrate how practical solutions can be delivered. Our short term objective is to launch our new specification which will ensure all our houses are A-rated (EPC). This is the first step in a long process in achieving the government’s long term ambitions for all houses to be built to the zero carbon standard.”

Archway Homes has previously created two developments in Great Sutton – nine new homes at The Chase and seven properties at Woodland View. The family-run, Cheshire-based business is currently building new homes at Eastham Fields, just off the A41, where the housing is facilitating the provision of a new clubhouse and community facilities at Anselmians Rugby Club.

Homes at Lime Tree Grange will soon be released for sale, featuring the new improved specification in addition to their generous standard specification.

“We have always endeavoured to build houses which exceed minimum standards. As such our houses were already energy efficient but this is about doing more, making the houses A-rated and enabling our customers to live more efficiently, and save them running costs in the process,” Mrs Whelan said.

She added: “We’ll be introducing hedgehog highway holes in our fences. We’ll also be presenting customers with bird and bug boxes for their gardens and offering them guidance on how to encourage wildlife to their gardens. It’s not just about finding a home for people but nature too!”