NITH VALLEY Leaf Trust have been shortlisted at this year’s Scotland Regeneration Forum (SURF) Awards.
The community development trust are nominated in the ‘housing and regeneration’ category for their community-owned Passivhaus project in Closeburn, near Thornhill.
The three houses are the first community-owned affordable Passivehauses to be built in Scotland, fitted with intricate heat recovery ventilators, meaning 90 per cent less energy is required to heat the homes.
With the help of Dumfries and Galloway Small Communities Housing Trust, funding from the Scottish Government’s Rural Housing Fund, as well as a loan from the Ecology Building Society, the construction was completed earlier this year and is soon expecting certification.
An independent panel of 20 judges whittled 50 initial applications down to 15 over five categories. A Special Achievement Award will also be presented to a community-led project which has supported their community during lockdown.
Jakob Kaye, community development officer for Nith Valley Leaf Trust, said: “The team are all incredibly proud that this ambitious project has been shortlisted for a SURF award. It gives us all a positive boost that we can push the boundaries of what is possible in community ownership to provide family housing which is both affordable and environmentally friendly.”
SURF chief executive Andy Milne said: “This has been no ordinary year for anyone, or for the SURF Awards. Community based regeneration projects have shown not just how creative and vital they are in a real emergency.
“They have also demonstrated how much more could be achieved by sharing local knowledge and supporting community assets in new and longer term partnerships.”
The judging panel will be carrying out virtual visits to nominated projects throughout October due to coronavirus restrictions. Once the impacts of each project on their respective communities have been assessed, winners will be announced.
