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New development gives residents electricity

21 November 2008

Residents of a new development will benefit from free electricity generated from the river that runs alongside their buildings.

The Chudleigh Milll project in Somerset has the capacity to generate 20 kilowatts using micro-hydropower to harness the power of the river Yeo.

According to developer TST properties, this is twice the amount of electricity needed to run the ten two-bedroom homes built into the mill and extension.

For the first ten years residents will be given free electricity and thereafter will be expected to pay a fee to cover the cost of running the generator.

Geogg Grant of TST Properties told the Guardian: "We wanted to create properties that had lower running costs. People are concerned about rising prices - you just don't know how high bills will be in the next few years and the prospect of using renewable energy like this is appealing."

The development also has rainwater recycling tanks and the natural local materials used in its construction mean it has good thermal performance.

From 2016, all new UK homes will have to be built to zero-carbon specifications.