The prototype for eco-friendly affordable housing soon to be rolled out across part of the region has been unveiled.Key players from Breckland Council and Peddars Way Housing Association were able to take a first look at their joint pioneering scheme on Wednesday.

The prototype for eco-friendly affordable housing soon to be rolled out across part of the region has been unveiled.

Key players from Breckland Council and Peddars Way Housing Association were able to take a first look at their joint pioneering scheme on Wednesday.

The five homes on Norwich Road, Yaxham, have been heralded as the future of housing, because of the high levels of energy efficiency and environmental friendly construction methods.

Reclaimed timber frames arrives in a flat-pack style, which builders then put together on site, and the structural insulated panels mean the homes are insulated to a high level saving on fuel costs and preventing sound travelling to next door properties.

External larch cladding is from sustainable resources, and a breather membrane limits CO2 emissions.

Lee Webster, a housing enabling officer at Breckland, said: “This is the first development of its type we have done. It's pioneering and we're very excited about it.

“People who go through affordable housing are on low income so fuel poverty is very relevant to them.

“The cost of running this property is very low. Even the maintenance is low. The outside needs nothing doing to it.

“We're looking at the whole life of the property. Not just building it or running it. We're already in meetings to ensure there are more of these homes built across Breckland.”

The homes are due to be finished this month and the two two-bedroom houses, two three-bedroom houses and one four-bedroom house will be offered to people with a local connection to the village.