A NEW housing scheme on Portland has secured the area’s first EcoHomes ‘Excellent’ award.

Synergy Housing Group’s Lovell’s Croft development has been described as ‘demonstrating exemplary environmental performance’ by expert assessors.

The £1.5million project, built by Synergy’s subsidiary company Weymouth and Portland Housing in partnership with Acheson Construction, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and the Housing Corporation, was completed last year.

The nine-dwelling scheme, built on former wasteland off Moorfield Road at Easton, was completed in 15 months and comprises seven three-bedroom houses and two four-bedroom houses.

EcoHomes assesses environmental performance with the need for a high quality of life and a safe and healthy neighbourhood.

The assessment consists of eight categories including management, energy, water, pollution, materials, transport, land use, ecology, health and wellbeing.

Lovell’s Croft impressed in all areas, much to the delight of Synergy development manager, Nigel Lester.

He said: “We are delighted to have received the EcoHomes award, especially considering we attained the top rating of ‘excellent’.

“Lovell’s Croft is a superb development which clearly demonstrates Synergy’s commitment to providing both environmentally-friendly homes and neighbourhoods.

“The EcoHomes assessment is thorough and leaves no stone unturned and so this is a wonderful achievement and something we are very proud of.”

Among the environmentally friendly aspects of Lovell’s Croft are water butt and recycling facilities in every property, specialised land drainage, energy efficient light fittings, low CO2 omissions, sound installation and high spec security systems.

It boasts good public transport links, each house has provisions for home offices and each property has been built using eco-friendly materials such as timber frames.