Professional and amateur builders have begun work on the UK’s first affordable straw bale homes this month.

North Kesteven District Council is managing the social housing project at the Waddington site in Lincolnshire, and says that foundations have been poured and above ground work is starting.

As well as employing Taylor Pearson Construction, it has allowed ordinary people to help build the homes as part of a training course.

North Kesteven District councillor and executive board member with responsibility for housing management, Stewart Ogden, said: “The straw houses scheme is a great project that will bring new homes to the district which are cheaper to build and more sustainable.

"It is also a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together in building these innovative houses, which are the first of their kind in the whole country. We encourage everyone to get involved and become a part of history."

Two houses will be built in Waddington, followed by another two in the nearby village of Martin, forming a pilot project hoped to cost £110,000 per home. The houses, designed by straw bale specialist Amazonails, will look like conventional brick buildings and be highly insulated.

Amazonails is offering the straw bale building training courses for beginners to professional builders for £65 per day. It will train people in straw bale wall raising, low impact foundations, limecrete and earthen flooring, lime rendering and clay plastering.

Photo by Amazonails

http://www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/section.asp?docId=7313&catId=87