South Dartmoor Community Energy
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  • About
    • Vacancies
    • Our Team
    • Partners
    • Join us
    • News
    • SDCE stories
    • Contact
  • Energy Advice
    • Advice Easy Read
    • Free home energy advice
    • Request Support
    • Your top tips
    • Getting the best deal
    • Extra help from your supplier
    • Smart Meters
    • Where will we be?
  • Community projects
    • Community Housing
    • Climate Action
    • Net Zero Heroes HQ >
      • The story so far
      • The challenge
      • Our diet
      • At home
      • Stuff
      • Transport
      • Nature
    • renewable energy >
      • Site visits
      • Community shares
      • Portworthy Solar Array
      • Clayworks Wind
    • Past projects >
      • Solar Roof Feasibility Project
      • energylab
      • Poster competition
      • Summer Roadshow!
      • Ivybridge Futures

Why do we want to build houses?

In 2017 we were frustrated with our lack of a large renewable energy project to develop, so the SDCE board of directors held a visioning day to consider what the needs of the local community really are and whether we can help. All of us agreed that the lack of affordable housing for local people is a prominent issue in our area and that the current housing developments being delivered are often poor quality, too dense and not built with sustainability issues at their heart. We therefore began exploring the idea of whether SDCE could find some land to develop an exemplar community housing scheme using green energy, integrating sustainable transport, and delivering very environmentally friendly, 100% affordable housing.

A housing project is not dissimilar to a renewables project.  It also requires identifying a site, securing the land rights, obtaining planning and other consents and raising finance.  We see it as a logical place for a community energy company to redirect its efforts, when the door is closed for renewable energy developments because of the lack of a viable business model and high cost of connecting to the grid. 
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Embarking on this project is a significant leap forward for SDCE and is a chance to secure the long term sustainability of the organisation. The project could be replicated by other organisations up and down the country. We want to share our learning as we progress, and the development will have huge community benefit for the people who end up living in the properties.


Next...
Why
The concept
The need
​Project timeline
Current site
Surveys
Access and parking
Proposed site layout
What will they look like
Passivhaus
Microgrid
Solar PV
Renewable heating
Electric vehicles (EVs)
Nature
Communal areas
Who can live here
Contact us

Registered under  the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 as a Community Benefit Society.  

Registration number 7353. VAT number 248 8969 32

​Registered address: South Dartmoor Community Energy, 2 Highfield Terrace, Bittaford, Ivybridge, PL21 0EW

info@sdce.org.uk       freephone 0800 112 3044

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