Staffordshire developer Walton Homes has alleviated homeowners’ concerns about soaring energy costs by sharing the energy-efficient measures that make a brand-new property almost 60 per cent cheaper to run than a second-hand home.
The housebuilder said that smart technologies and thermally efficient insulation methods meant that new-build homes cost significantly less to heat than older homes, saving owners up to £2,600 a year – a 58 per cent saving on the cost of heating a home built in 1990.
Amy Summerton, Director, said: “The past three years have bought a raft of considerations for homeowners and potential buyers, with the soaring energy price issues currently being listed as their number one concern.
“House prices are holding their own at present, despite the economic downturn, and with the Autumn Statement having maintained the waiving of stamp duty on the first £250,000 of property purchases, and of up to £425,000 for first-time purchasers, buyers are in a strong position – with most citing uncertainty over energy costs as their key reason for reticence when it comes to taking the plunge.
“The current stamp duty thresholds are expected to save the average homebuyer £2,500, and first-time buyers more than £8,000, and as such, we wanted to reiterate the benefits of a new property to put concerns about those savings being spent on energy bills at bay,” she added.
Amy said that the majority of Walton Homes properties have an energy-efficiency rating of EPC B, something that less than 3.5 per cent of homes built pre-2007, when EPC ratings were introduced, can boast.
Technical advances within the construction sector over the past decade include thermally efficient insulation materials to discourage damp and to keep heat in and costs down, as well as argon-filled double glazing to capture the sun’s warmth while preventing it from escaping.
Amy added: “Our business has built up a strong reputation over the past 35 years for developing stylish, high-specification homes in beautiful locations.
“Just as we make a point of being sympathetic to local buildings when we choose the style of the properties and the materials we build with, we make sure that energy-efficiency is a core consideration in their design to benefit both their owner and the environment.”
For details of the range of developments currently available, visit: waltonhomes.co.uk.
