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In this era of escalating fuel costs, an innovative Scottish property company - Ballyconnelly Developments of Greenock - has been awarded one of Scotland’s highest property awards for demonstrating that super energy-efficient, stylish family homes can be built for the highly affordable price tag of £150,000.   

At the hotly-contested Herald Property Awards for Scotland 2008 on Thursday night, (11 September 2008), Ballyconnelly’s managing director Pol Stewart picked up top honours from Janette Harkess, Deputy Editor of The Herald, in the ‘Best High Performance’ category for the company’s Enkelt Living brand of sustainable three-bedroom family homes in Dunoon.

95% of the materials used in the build are based on recycled products, or provided by forests managed by the Forest Stewardship Council.  The carbon footprint created by the construction process will be offset by planting trees to soak up unavoidable C02 emissions from the transportation of materials to site.

Professor James Sommerville, Chair of the Judging Panel for The Herald’s Property Awards for Scotland 2008 said:

“Enkelt Living was described as a ‘breath of fresh air’ by our panel. This is an excellent example of a sustainable home, with strong recycling policies, minimum construction waste and an efficient heat recovery system. Workers on the site are re-trained IBM employees from the local area.”

Scandinavian-inspired Enkelt Living homes come equipped with a whole host of energy-saving features, fitted as standard. These include heat recovery units, thermal barriers, automated smart electricity meters, high tech Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS) and low maintenance roof tiles. As a result, heating bills should be, on average, approximately 80% lower than for a conventionally-built home of comparable size.

Pol Stewart, managing director of Ballyconnelly Developments is a professional engineer and Norwegian speaker, and commented:

“The Ballyconnelly team is firmly focused on selling affordable, desirable, energy-efficient homes for the future.  We are absolutely delighted that our three-year investment programme to create the Enkelt Living brand has beaten the best in the business and been recognised with this prestigious award. 

“I am delighted for the whole team, who have worked so hard to realise the dream of bringing quality, sustainably-built home ownership within reach of many families who have been priced out of the market.

“We are extremely proud that these new homes will enhance quality of life while hugely reducing energy costs for their new owners.  We’re convinced, too, that there is massive potential to extend the Enkelt Living brand via land-buying partnerships with local authorities and like-minded investors and developers which will allow us to build, potentially, hundreds more ethical, affordable homes to help address Scotland’s chronic housing shortage.”

High specification interior fixtures and fittings range from glamorous, high gloss white open-plan kitchens with stainless steel appliances and solid oak worktops, to argon-filled timber windows; solid wood doors; underfloor heating; sleek, contemporary European bathroom suites; 3 metre ceiling heights on the upper floor; and floored, open loft areas.  The resulting ‘wow factor’ demonstrates that high lifestyle aspirations needn’t be sacrificed when building healthy, affordable homes with minimal environmental impact.

Viewing appointments for all four stylish Enkelt Living homes can be arranged through selling agents: Stewart Property, 61-63 Argyll Street, Dunoon PA23 7HG. T: 01369 705454.    

Notes to Editors:

1. In addition to new energy-efficient homes in Dunoon, five further new build or refurbishment Ballyconnelly residential developments are currently at planning or development in Greenock: at Captain Street, Dempster Street, Fox Street, Nelson Street and Newton Street.

2. The company is privately owned by managing director Pol Stewart, a professional engineer.  Its headquarters in Captain Street, Greenock are relaxed, contemporary, open plan offices featuring original artworks