Latest news

Future Proof Housing

A packed room of delegates attended the launch in Woking of Greenoak’s research project - liveable solutions to a low carbon future. Prof David Strong holder of the 2007 Building Sustainability Leadership award was guest speaker together with Fiona Cruickshank and Karin Stockerl from the Housing Corporation. For details and summary report, click here.

Housing Corporation Gold Award

Greenoak is celebrating the news that it has scooped a prestigious national housing award. Greenoak triumphed in the face of stiff competition from over 100 rival entries. Announced at a special awards ceremony in Central London, Greenoak has won a Housing Corporation Gold Award 2007 for its outstanding work and innovation in providing its residents with eco-friendly homes.

Green Homes Project:

Mainstreaming sustainable housing. Greenoak’s official launch of this Innovation and Good Practice Project took place in Horsham, West Sussex on 31 January 2007. It attracted widespread interest and those speaking included Julie Fawcett, Housing Corporation Board Member, and David Orr, Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation.

The project ’Mainstreaming high performance sustainable construction‘ will contribute practically to the housing sector’s aim of enabling economic forms of sustainable housing to be delivered more rapidly, robustly and routinely.

Housing Corporation Board Member, Julie Fawcett, said, 'I am pleased that Housing Corporation Innovation and Good Practice funding is supporting this project which will help provide valuable guidance to the housing sector for building homes to meet the new challenging environmental targets for sustainable housing. Greenoak Housing Association are at the forefront of setting an example of minimising the environmental impact of housing in rural areas. It is an example we will be looking for other providers of housing to follow.'

The homes produced in this programme extend the levels of sustainability employed in mainstream housing by achieving homes that are environmentally, economically and socially sustainable for current and future occupants. Principally they are designed to be attractive and easy to live in for all people. They are light, airy and warm. In addition to being extremely low-energy, they are flexible and adaptable, avoid all toxic materials in construction, minimise water use, and have sustainable drainage. The first schemes have been completed in Woking and on a rural site in Normandy, Guildford. The third planned for Storrington in West Sussex, is being developed in partnership with Horsham District Council and re-uses a Council-owned brown-field site on the edge of the South Downs. Part funded by Horsham Council and Housing Corporation grant, this scheme will provide 24 eco homes specifically to meet identified local housing needs for both Horsham and Greenoak. These are due to be completed in Spring 2008.

Those interested in getting involved or being informed further as this project rolls out should contact : igp@greenoakha.org

Board Member appointments 2007

Denise Moll, Deputy Chair of Fleetwood Court Residents’ Association rejoins Greenoak’s Board. We are delighted that Denise who served as a Board Member for several years up to 2004 has agreed to rejoin the Board to assist with our Customer First programme. Barbara Daoulas, resident at Apollo Place, has also applied for Board Membership and will attend the next Board Meeting in March.

Building's Sustainability Awards

Greenoak's Dartmouth Avenue scheme in Woking made the short list of six schemes nationwide as 'Sustainable Development of the Year.' Greenoak's Chief Executive Diana Kingdon, said 'As a small but innovative association, we decided to take a deliberately selective approach in making a contribution to sustainable development. We do not attempt to tackle the issue in the same way as a large organisation, so we concentrated our efforts in being needs led and producing new homes that are genuinely sustainable in their concept, design and use.'

Greenoak receives grant

We have been granted one of only two Innovation and Good Practice (IGP) grants in the south-east. This is part of a package of grants to encourage IGP in housing.

Our successful bid “Mainstreaming high performance sustainable construction” will contribute practically to the housing sector’s aim of improving supply chains for new housing that allow economic forms of sustainable housing to be delivered more rapidly, robustly and routinely.”

Housing Corporation Field Director for the South East, Fiona Cruickshank, said “I am delighted that our IGP funding will give Greenoak Housing Association the opportunity to take even further forward its development of high quality, well designed and eco-friendly homes for those in need. This project will not only benefit Greenoak Housing Association and the families to be housed, but we fully expect it to set an example to others of what can be achieved, in particular in rural areas where a significant amount of our investment in new, affordable homes will continue to be focused. High quality, eco-friendly features, quicker building times and potential cost savings are all things the housing sector as a whole aspires to. We fully expect this project to help in achieving these goals”

Housing Corporation Members visit Greenoak scheme

Members of the Housing Corporation Investment Committee were recently taken on an Away Day by Fiona Cruickshank, Director for the south-east. The Corporation’s Committee Members visit one region a year and this year was the turn of the south-east.
Our Normandy development was the last of four schemes visited. The rural development had the enthusiastic support of David Williams, Guildford’s Chief Executive, who joined the group.
While members enjoyed tea on one of the hottest days of the year, Adrian Buffery, Greenoak’s Director of Development, gave members a presentation on our sustainable housing programme. If you would like to download this presentation please click here.

Everyone then had the opportunity to view one of the houses and to meet resident Kirsty with her two young children.
Steve Douglas, the Corporation’s Deputy Chief Executive, views the mezzanine storage area.

There was a special thanks to Kirsty for her hospitality.

Kirsty with David Williams

Excellent ECO Homes

Our new homes on the cover of the latest HC publication – Working for the SE. Fiona Cruickshank opened our new rural scheme in Normandy, Guildford, the first rural development in the SE region to achieve this standard.

Housing Corporation - Working for the South-East

We are delighted that this new Housing Corporation publication features an article on our Eco homes at our rural scheme in Normandy, Surrey. New resident Kirsty and son Jordan are featured on the cover and a photo of neighbours Thomas and Fiona is inside together with a view of the houses. Click here to download or view a copy of the publication.

Normandy

First rural ECO excellent homes in SE Greenoak Housing Association’s new rural housing scheme was opened in Glaziers Lane, Normandy. Fiona Cruickshank, Director of the South East Region of the Housing Corporation jointly opened the scheme with Guildford’s Mayor, Cllr Tamsy Baker. Amongst other guests was Humfrey Malins, MP for Woking whose constituency covers Normandy.

An innovative approach has been used to achieve full eco homes and lifetime homes standard. This is the first rural scheme to achieve this in the south-east.

Fiona Cruickshank, said : “I am really proud that the Housing Corporation has provided funding for 12 family homes in the rural area of Normandy, Guildford. These new homes have been innovatively designed and are built to Eco Homes “Excellent” rating which will reduce fuel bills for the families and have a positive impact on the environment by reducing CO2 emissions.” This scheme has been developed to meet the specific local needs of the Normandy area with minimal environmental impact. Greenoak has developed the scheme on land provided by Guildford Borough Council working closely with Normandy Parish Council.

This innovative project was inspired by Jon Broome Architects and Greenoak’s Development Manager, Adrian Buffery. It realises a vision of producing high quality sustainable homes that meet the needs of residents and communities in the long term. The buildings are adaptable for future use and social need. The design incorporates many features to minimise environmental impact, reduce total energy and water usage, and avoid toxic materials throughout.

There are a number of innovative features including highly insulated timber construction, triple glazing, heat recovery and the use of non-toxic materials. The aim is to provide housing that is truly sustainable and adaptable to future needs with full ‘Lifetime Homes’ and ‘Secured by Design’ standards as well as very low running costs and environmental impact.

The scheme provides housing to rent for local people on the old Manor Fruit Farm adjacent to other community uses. These include a new doctors’ surgery, village hall, horticultural therapy project and an archery club.

The new tenants have been delighted with the design.
Kirsty and Matthew, who have had a baby since moving in said ‘The house is brilliant, we like the open plan ground floor, and find the gallery storage areas really useful’.

Greenoak is continuing to develop the eco homes model and to work with partner local authorities bidding for funds through the Housing Corporation’s specialist route.

Woking

We have recently completed 14 sustainable homes in Sheerwater, Woking. These two to four bedroom family homes built to eco homes excellent standard are all affordable houses to rent. The houses were funded by the Housing Corporation and Woking Borough Council and Greenoak.

The scheme has been designed by Jon Broome, Architects to eco homes excellent standard. This is well ahead of the Housing Corporation’s current requirement of eco homes good standard.

12 more family homes are near to completion in Normandy, a village outside Guildford, Surrey. Consultation with local residents included a meeting and exhibition at the Parish Hall which was extremely well attended. Other rural sites under investigation include land at Rudgwick, West Sussex, where we completed a small scheme three years ago.

There has been much talk of sustainable development in recent years. As a small but innovative association we have decided to take a deliberately selective approach in making our contribution. We cannot attempt to tackle the issue in the same way as a large organisation and therefore have concentrated our efforts in being needs led and producing new homes that are genuinely sustainable in their concept, design and use.

We work closely in partnership with residents, local authorities, parish councils and other agencies to ensure that any physical or service developments we make, ‘hit the nail on the head’ for the neighbourhood in question.

We are committed to getting the best value for local communities with the least environmental cost in the long term. This means looking critically at the whole building process to get maximum performance from limited resources.

Greenoak is a preferred partner in Woking, and for rural schemes in Chichester, Guildford, Horsham and Mole Valley.

Residents on line

Greenoak has recently set up a computer area in the lounge at Apollo Place, our sheltered scheme in Woking. Residents are now signed up to access the web and email friends and family in addition to using the other computer programmes. 

Free and low cost training is provided locally and our volunteer is holding one to one sessions with residents. 

Each user has a personal email address and a password to get on line.  Searching for low cost and special interest holidays has proved popular. Internet shopping has proved a blessing for many, particularly for those who are less mobile. 

Residents’ forum members have recently successfully searched sites for new electrical equipment and awning for the scheme’s communal areas.

Following this successful pilot, we are in the process of getting all sheltered schemes on line.