Work has begun to build what will be the most environmentally-friendly council homes in Norwich once a £1.5m scheme is completed.

The project, in Hansard Close in Mile Cross, has seen Norwich City Council's former neighbourhood area housing office demolished to make way for 10 flats.

Those flats – eight one-bedroom flats and two two-bedroom flats – will be the first council-owned homes built in Norwich to what is known as Passivhaus standard.

Passivhaus homes are built to the highest standards of energy efficiency and designed to use very little energy for heating and cooling.

Examples of Passivhaus features include extra thick insulation, triple glazed windows and doors, and heat provided through a mechanical vent heat recovery system.

Norfolk firm EN Suiter & Sons Ltd is building the homes, designed by London-based Hamson Barron Smith, which is managing the scheme.

Gail Harris, deputy leader of Norwich City Council and cabinet member for housing and wellbeing, said: 'We are very proud to be a leading the development of homes with such outstanding eco credentials, which have real benefits for both the environment and our tenants.

'It's fantastic to see Norwich emerging as a leader in this field.'

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