WORK to build the UK’s first development of virtually plastic free homes in Redditch is ‘progressing well’.

Planning permission was granted last year for 94 homes, which includes 26 townhouses and 68 apartments and an office space, to be built at the former Victoria Works on Edward Street.

Twelve of these homes will be affordable and built using plastic-free alternatives.

The project, owned and built by housing and care provider GreenSquareAccord, is the result of a partnership between Redditch Borough Council and CHARM (Circular Housing Asset Renovation & Management) which is made up of representatives from the UK, France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Carl Taylor, assistant director of New Business at GreenSquareAccord said: “Our goal for this development is to lead the way, showing what is possible and achievable in reducing the consumption of plastic within construction.

“We have been investing in low carbon housing solutions for many years and aim to develop a low carbon, low plastic model for providing affordable homes on a large scale.

“By reducing the use of materials that are not good for the environment both during manufacture and construction, we can change how we manufacture our homes, providing a more sustainable solution for future housing.”

The new homes are being constructed using timber panels from GreenSquareAccord’s low carbon manufacturing facility, LoCaL Homes.

Each apartment will feature high end finishes, with plastic free alternatives installed such as wooden kitchen units and aluminium window frames, wiring using a mineral based insulation rather than the usual plastic, and solar thermal heating systems which will provide low running costs.

The development, which is due to complete in March 2022, has received £1.2m EU funding from the INTERREG North West Europe funding partnership, allowing GreenSquareAccord to research the reduction and removal of plastic in a large scale project.