Luton Borough Council

16/05/2023 - New much-needed homes built in Luton

An exciting new development of six three-bedroom council houses was officially opened on Monday 15 May here in Luton.

The homes, at Lodden Mews, Morris Close and Melsetter Mews, Denham Close were designed by the council’s own architects and built to standard by in-house Building and Technical Services, BTS. New residents moved into Lodden Mews in April, with tenants due to move into Melsetter Mews in the next two weeks.

As part of the council’s commitment to net zero by 2040 and in line with its Luton 2040 vision of good quality, affordable family housing, they are the first homes to be built using air source heat pumps rather than gas boilers.

The pumps work by drawing in outside air over a network of tubes filled with very cold gas. This extracts the heat energy from the air. The gas then passes through a compressor, increasing the pressure and raising the temperature of the gas, which in turn heats the water in the radiator system. The gas returns to its previous temperature and the process begins again.

The gas passes through a compressor which increases the pressure and temperature causing it to change from a cold gas to a hot liquid.

The compressed hot liquid passes into a heat exchanger that heats water for both your radiator heating circuit and your taps. The refrigerant then turns back into a cold gas and starts the cycle all over again.

Councillor Tom Shaw, portfolio holder for housing and climate change, said: “Luton desperately needs family-sized accommodation. This development, will give local residents the opportunity to enjoy their own homes and provide a base for them to set up strong local roots.

“By using our own talented team of designers and builders we have been able to ensure the whole development is very much a Luton-based effort. The fact that the houses use air source heat pumps is another step in the right direction as we strive to make our town a net zero carbon environment by 2040. BTS are already underway building an additional 52 low carbon homes in the area for completion in 2024.”

At the opening ceremony attended by councillors, residents, staff and partners who worked on the development, a tree was planted as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy scheme.