4,000 new homes signed up to Home Quality Mark scheme

The Home Quality Mark (HQM) is the new benchmark that gives homeowners the confidence that the home they are buying is designed and built to a high standard.

The HQM also allows homeowners to see where there property stands in terms of its cost efficiency and environmental impact and the technological aspects of the property. It allows developers to differentiate their homes in an independent way that consumers trust.

HQM has announced that 4,000 new homes currently being built across the UK have signed up for assessment through HQM, a sign that more developers are willing to follow a strict criteria to ensure homes are built to be as cost-effective as possible for the consumer and last for generations.

One of the latest house builders to sign up is egg Homes, whose Viver Green development in Cumbria, is now working towards achieving the national HQM, which would be a first for Egg Homes, with other developments likely to follow soon after.

The boutique collection of just 22 highly-sustainable four and five bedroom residences is striving to set the benchmark for future home development, and, if successful, would be one of the very first projects to be awarded the coveted Mark of excellence for new build properties.

The new homes feature energy-saving smart home technology and have been constructed with sustainable low maintenance materials and feature eco-friendly landscaped front and rear gardens.

Viver Green is rare in that it uses Amvic Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) for the property shells, consisting of high-density polystyrene panels with a solid concrete core. Solar panels, battery storage devices and renewable Ecodan air source heat pumps are also utilised.

In general consumers are likely to find that new homes with the HQM standard will have lower energy costs and less maintenance costs.

In addition to the egg Homes development, other companies are also completing projects that reach the HQM standard. These include Wienberger and ZED Factory; both companies are in the process of securing HQM certification.

Phase 2 of the egg Homes Viver Green development is now available for sale with prices from £445,950 for four bedroom homes.

Meanwhile, ZED Factory’s Newport Eco Village is a mixed residential zero carbon sustainable development with 94 homes set around two village greens located on the edge of Newport village. Total build cost will depend on site specifics but is expected to be around £1,350 -£1,500 per m2.

Currently only available in England, Home Quality Mark will soon be operational in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

More information at www.homequalitymark.com