Residential landlords who invest in the low carbon Ecostessey Park development, near Norwich are being offered five years of free energy which will help attract tenants.

Ecostessey Park is an eco-development of 3, 4 and 5 bedroom townhouses, set on a private estate on the edge of Old Costessey, near Norwich. Prices start at £249,950.

Ron Beattie, managing director of specialist building company Roy Williamson Properties, said: “Given the ever-rising price of oil, our commitment to pay utility bills for their first five years at our development is quite an incentive.

“Everyone we speak with in the industry says we are leading the way on low carbon technology. We have incorporated so many energy efficient measures and our research in the show houses is proving that this greatly reduces utility bills.

“Apart from on-site solar and photovoltaic panels, we are sourcing green electricity from Ecotricity’s windfarm. This means that everything is run on renewable electricity and our hi-spec insulation – every interior wall and floor cavity and as well as all the exterior wall and roof cavities are insulated - means nothing goes to waste. Energy requirements really can be minimal.”

The list of extras, which exceeds current building regulations, include:

• 500 square metres of extra insulation built into internal walls and floors designed to retain heat in the winter, keep cool in the summer and provide excellent sound insulation.
• High performance heat-reflecting glass in windows and doors which are also self-cleaning.
• Solar panels providing 70 percent of hot water requirements.
• Photovoltaic panels generating ‘money-back’ electricity into the national grid.
• Energy efficient electric heating to drastically reduce utility bills.
• Zero maintenance exterior finish to each property.
• Rain water recycling to flush WCs which lowers water bills.
• Thermostatic bath fill to control exact water temperature, again cutting down wastage and cost.