Work has begun on what is believed to be the first retirement village of zero carbon bungalows in the UK.

Phase one of the £9m scheme at Middleton Hall Retirement Village is getting underway at the 100 acre site at Middleton St George in County Durham.

Work on the gatehouse has already been completed, which will see a two-bedroom prototype zero carbon home.

Each home will be fitted with wood burning stoves, triple glazed windows and thick insulation as well as solar thermal panels and electricity generated from PV (photovoltaic) panels.

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According to National Home Energy Rating Software, the costs amounted for heating, hot water, lighting, cooking and use of appliances should be outweighed by income from the Feed-in-Tariff.

"One of the worries for older people is paying for increasing energy bills on fixed incomes", said Jeremy Walford, managing director of Middleton Hall Retirement Village.

"The fantastic thing about the bungalows is that buyers know they won’t have costly energy bills to pay and could even make money from the Feed-in-Tariff income."

The expansion is expected to create 45 new jobs and includes plans for an orangery with a cafe, bar and farm shop.

The first four bungalows have been sold ahead of construction starting on the first phase, due for completion early next summer.

Mr Walford added: "It’s exciting to see work starting on the new bungalows. We want Middleton Hall to be thought of as the best retirement village in the UK and for us, the way to do that is to keep coming up with innovative developments which will enrich people’s lives."

(IT/GK)