An eco-friendly social housing scheme has got underway in County Down.

Thirty-four, two-bedroom apartments, boasting a range of energy-saving/green features, are being built by Oaklee Housing Association at Shaftesbury in Bangor.

Design plans include photovoltaic roof panels which convert sunlight into electricity, rainwater collection points, recycling facilities and low flow fittings on all showers, toilets and taps.

The apartments, which are to be occupied solely by people over the age of 55, will be some of the first public funded homes in Northern Ireland to satisfy the demands of the new Code Level 3 environmental impact rating system.

The Code is designed to improve the sustainability of new homes and requires all new social housing to offer a reduced environmental impact, increased energy efficiency and features that enhance health and well being.

Housing Minister Margaret Ritchie said: "The delivery of highly energy efficient and sustainable public sector housing is a key priority for my department, especially given the volatility in energy prices and living costs nowadays.

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"Through Oaklee Housing Association, these apartments will provide state-of-the-art accommodation for people over 55 years of age, allowing them to take advantage of an array of energy-saving features.

"Oaklee and MMM Design & Build are to be congratulated for being among the first in Northern Ireland to begin constructing a public sector housing scheme to this very high standard."

Brian McVeigh from developers MMM Design & Build said his company was "also focused on providing highly efficient internal and external fittings".

"Low flow fittings to showers, toilets and taps within each apartment will reduce the internal water use and rainwater collected from the roof into containers will be used in the communal garden area.

"Waste management and recycling is another key design feature with internal storage bins within each apartment allowing the recycling of three types of waste.

"Literally everything down to the careful selection of plant species for creative landscaping has been taken into consideration to meet the new Code Level 3 standards."

Ian Sheridan, Director of Operations for Oaklee Housing Association, said the development also met Code Level 3 requirements by "utilising efficient building fabric with high levels of insulation and highly efficient gas boilers".

"The combined effect of this produces a 25% improvement of C02 emissions over normal building regulation requirements due to the lower consumption of energy required to heat the apartments.

"The large area (110m2) of photovoltaic panels on the roof will also convert sunlight into electricity for use in the building."

(PR/JM)