Britain's largest housebuilder has joined forces with a major energy supplier to offer selected homeowners two years of free electricity in an innovative sustainability trial.
Barratt Redrow and British Gas have launched the pioneering scheme where homeowners can benefit from advanced renewable energy systems at home.
Residents participating in the trial will pay nothing for their electricity whilst researchers gather valuable data about renewable energy usage in everyday domestic settings.
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The initiative at Pastures Place in Corby Glen, a Lincolnshire housing development, represents a significant step towards understanding how families adapt to sustainable living with modern eco-technology.
Each participating household will be equipped with Hive's cutting-edge eco-technology package. This includes smart energy management systems, air source heat pumps, maximum-capacity solar panels, batteries, and intelligent sensors and lighting.
The two-year free electricity arrangement covers heating, hot water, lighting, cooking and standard household appliances. However, electric vehicle charging is excluded, and households must stay within a fair usage limit of 5,000 kilowatt hours annually.
Homeowners could save approximately £1,258 yearly, equivalent to £105 monthly, based on typical new-build energy consumption.
The sophisticated Hive system optimises energy consumption by intelligently controlling connected devices linked to the national grid.
The technology coordinates heat pumps, solar panels and batteries to maximise renewable energy usage, particularly during periods when the grid delivers cleaner, more affordable electricity.
British Gas customers can save some extra cash with a new trial
| GETTYThere will be 10 properties to benefit from the scheme which will be fitted with advanced renewable energy systems. These homes are expected to be available for sale from July 2025. Britons can find out more information on how they can participate on their website.
The Pastures Place development offers a range of three, four and five-bedroom properties starting at £319,995, alongside shared ownership options.
After the trial concludes, residents can potentially sell surplus electricity through the Smart Export Guarantee scheme. Those generating excess power could achieve zero bills or even profit from their renewable systems.
Participating families must agree to share detailed consumption data with scientists at the University of Salford.
Middle-class households could face higher energy bills to fund net zero under new Ofgem review
| GETTYThe institution has established expertise in low-carbon housing research and has collaborated with Barratt Redrow for two years on net-zero carbon prototypes within their Energy House 2.0 climate chamber.
The research findings will be shared with surveyors and mortgage providers to help assess property valuations and develop green mortgage products.
Oliver Novakovic, Head of Technical & Innovation at Barratt Redrow, described the collaboration as testing "a template for delivering low to no bill homes at scale".
He emphasised that the Corby Glen trial represents crucial progress from laboratory concepts to practical implementation in actual family homes.
Smart home solutions help customers save money whilst supporting sustainable living aspirations
| GETTY"We are designing and delivering innovative, energy efficient, low carbon homes that enable customers to live comfortably with advanced fabric and heating technology, so that they can gain the benefits of both lower bills," Novakovic stated.
Hamish Phillips, Net Zero Business Development Director at Centrica, which owns British Gas and Hive, highlighted how smart home solutions help customers save money whilst supporting sustainable living aspirations.
He praised the partnership as demonstrating how appropriate eco-technology enables people to manage their energy consumption effectively.
David Wilson Homes, part of the Barratt Redrow group, has invested more than £1million in the Corby Glen community as part of the project.