Green home plan for island estate

Some houses will have solar panels to help conserve energy

Plans for a multi-million pound government project to build environmentally friendly housing on an Isle of Man estate have been announced.

Janet's Corner in Castletown is the proposed site for the £4.6m scheme.

The new green homes will face south, have solar panels to maximise energy efficiency and rain water butts to minimise water usage.

A spokesperson for the environment department said "Energy conservation is a top priority".

We envisage a very significant reduction in energy costs... and a reduction in the all important CO2 emissions Juan Watterson MHK

The project will see 26 new homes with extra insulation to cut heat loss, special recycling bins and rainwater butts to conserve water.

The Department of Local Government and the Environment, which is behind the scheme, has applied to Tynwald for the funds.

Juan Watterson, MHK with responsibility for Affordable Housing, said energy efficiency in new housing was a key objective and this project would deliver that.

Reduce costs

"We envisage a very significant reduction in energy costs for individual households and a reduction in all important CO2 emissions."

This is part of a £19.6m scheme to redevelop the Janet's Corner estate.

Since work started 18 months ago, 51 houses have been refurbished.

Work on the new build is due to start in May, and the whole development should be finished by the end of 2011.