Sustainable property company CITU has delivered its first affordable homes within the Aire Lofts apartment scheme, at the heart of the pioneering, multi award-winning Climate Innovation District in Leeds.

Working in partnership with social housing provider Leeds Community Homes (LCH), eight one and two-bedroom apartments are now available with the first residents set to move in imminently. This tranche is part of Aire Lofts and is the first of three phases of affordable homes being developed at the Climate Innovation District which will ultimately offer a total of 16 homes within the community. Three homes in this phase are being marketed as shared ownership* opportunities with the remainder available through social rent agreements.

CITU has been working with LCH since 2016 to incorporate social housing as an integral part of the Climate Innovation District which is being delivered on the banks of the River Aire, just a few minutes’ walk from the city centre. The LCH-managed homes of course enjoy the same industry-leading specification and sustainable credentials as their neighbours, with high performing energy efficiency in all the homes which are designed and manufactured on site.

The homes offer city centre living combined seamlessly with zero carbon sustainability credentials. All the apartments’ interiors feature a high-quality finish with concrete floors, exposed pipework and maximum natural light. It’s a ‘less but better’, stripped back aesthetic and bold design that has attracted industry accolades and the thriving, growing community already resident at the District.

Once complete, Aire Lofts will consist of 108 one and two-bedroom apartments, with a handful of bespoke penthouses. These have been designed around open, shared outdoor spaces, including a large central green, purposefully bringing residents together to create a social and inclusive community. Every apartment also benefits from south-facing windows to maximise natural light and fresh air, and abundant green space with plants, many of them edible, surrounding the building. A new green space is also set to open imminently with a football pitch, outdoor cooking facilities and a tennis wall for residents to enjoy.

CITU’s in-house design team maximised the internal space of the apartments by eliminating corridors to create spacious, airy and bright rooms with apartments enjoying dual aspect views of Leeds cityscape.

CITU Managing Director Jonathan Wilson said: “CITU is a zero-carbon, place-maker and developer with creativity and design at its core. Often developments treat affordable housing as an inconvenient add-on to be accommodated, rather than an opportunity to build a truly inclusive and diverse community where every person has something of value to contribute.

“We focus on making sustainable living, and inclusive design completely accessible we will of course do the right thing for the right reasons this approach has been rooted in the Climate Innovation District from when the very first home was built. Ultimately, it is about creating a beautiful and sustainable future for all of our residents, irrespective of the journey that brought them here.”

Jimm Reed, LCH Development Director added: “Since the very beginning we have enjoyed a close relationship with CITU and have been really encouraged by their vision of a truly inclusive community where everyone is welcome. You can see that already even with the District only part-occupied, it really is an incredible place.

“As well as the properties available via social rent, we also have three apartments allocated for shared ownership. These are an excellent opportunity for people in Leeds who can’t otherwise afford it to get a foot on the first rung of the property ladder, in an award-winning development, which is such a rarity in a prime city centre location.”

*Shared ownership allows a first-time buyer to purchase up to 75% of the property and pay rent on the remaining part. Anyone interested in shared ownership at Aire Lofts, can find out more at https://leedscommunityhomes.org.uk/climate-innovation-district/

Vision 2017 are offering an opportunity for architect and their firms to stay ahead of the game when it comes to the increased change in technology and what this means for the built environment. It is thought that in order to stay abreast of all of the challenges and at the forefront of technological solutions, continuous learning will be demanded.

Vision has been looking at the market trends, with particular attention being paid to new products and building solution as well as the insurgence of new software. Vision is considered as a CPD accredited event that is popular for the professional development of the architectural industry. The BRE, RIBA and NLA all host talks and events as part of Vision and it thought that Vison 2017 will see the gathering of industry experts for an opportunity to learn and network.

The event will be taking place between the 6^th and the 7^th June and is free to attend. Taking place at Olympia London the convention. Amongst the things on display, Pocket Living will be there to outline what would be required by architects in order to create an efficient and more viable built environment. Also at the event is Archio, who will be looking more in to bespoke and prefabricated construction and how technology in this sector can be adapted in order to make one-offs or from bespoke kiosks to new micro-housing. Bio buildings will also be discussed as part of Vison 2017, with the focus being on working alongside students and academics in biology, computer science and business in order to create new materials. Astudio have been doing just that and some of these will be on display to show the significance of design while creating resilient environments. BRE, Vision’s BIM Partner, will also be giving those that attend the event the chance to network with BRE speakers in order to improve BIM education and the different certification services available.