A provisional deal has been struck to save a state-of-the-art environmentally-friendly eco-homes scheme which is being built in Sheffield.

A Sheffield City Council scheme to build 'Bright Green Homes' at Norfolk Park - a group of homes that are cheap to run and will reduce the city’s carbon footprint – was under threat last year after the previous developer - Environment Trust - ran into difficulties due to the current economic climate.

But a new agreement has been reached just last week with Places for People, one of the UK's largest housing and regeneration groups, meaning the £5.2m scheme is now back on track.

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The Group is one of the lead partners in the multi-million pound regeneration of the area, and has already developed over 300 new homes in Norfolk Park, alongside an award-winning extra-care scheme for older persons, called Guildford Grange.

It has also pledged it will keep building the 21st-century green eco-homes, which are very nearly completed, to as high specifications as before. A total of 47 eco-homes have been built on land where former tower blocks and obsolete housing once stood but have now been demolished. They are next to the tram route and the recently built environmentally friendly school.

The new development of one, two and three-bedroom homes feature a variety of environmentally friendly features including solar panels, water-saving spray taps, and insulation systems made from recycled rags and newspapers and it is hoped will mean dramatically reduced energy bills each year.

The scheme has been heavily promoted by the Homes and Communities Agency, who are keen to see ongoing regeneration in the area, and new homes delivered to local people. It has helped provide partial grant funding for the deal between Places for People and Sheffield City Council to go ahead.

(CD/JM)