Ministerial Visit

During his visit to Orkney on 10th July 2012, Keith Brown MSP, Minister for Housing & Transport, visited two of Orkney Housing Association’s (OHAL) housing developments.

Passivhaus retrofit
At Lynn Crescent he removed the first block from OHAL’s disused boiler house to commence its conversion to a dwelling house; a project funded from the Scottish Government’s Innovation and Investment Fund. The building is to be retro-fitted to Passivhaus standards which provide such a highly insulated and airtight building envelope that it will require no additional heating beyond that which is generated from normal domestic appliances and activities.  This will make it the most northerly building to be certified to this Standard of energy efficiency.

Lynn Crescent – Keith Brown MSP, Sally Inkster (Chief Executive), Richard Flett (Technical Services Manager), John Stockan (Committee Member, OHAL), George Hannah (Vice Chair, OHAL)

Joint housing development between OHAL and Orkney Islands Council
Mr Brown then visited the joint OIC and OHAL housing project at Peerie Sea Loan where he saw how the Council and the Association have worked to together to construct a 40 unit development of rented and shared ownership properties. 

At Peerie Sea Loan he met Gemma Floyd and her family who moved into an OHAL property in November 2011 and heard first hand the benefits that new affordable housing can provide for young Orkney families.

Gemma Floyd with baby Robert, Keith Brown MSP, and Sally Inkster (Chief Executive), OHAL.

George Hannah, Vice Chair of Orkney Housing Association said “we welcome the opportunity to show the Housing Minister that at Lynn Crescent we continue to champion low energy housing.  We are delighted to be able to replace the redundant boiler house with a dwelling with such high energy efficiency credentials.”

Housing Minister Keith Brown said “The provision of quality affordable homes is crucial to ensure the survival of our island communities. It helps to house and retain the local population and boost the island’s construction sector.

“Orkney Housing Association and Orkney Islands Council are to be congratulated for developing greener, energy efficient homes. With rising fuel prices, it is great news for Orkney families that are trying to lower their household bills.”