Barratt Redrow Teams Up with British Gas to Launch 'Free Energy Bill Homes'

Image Credit: Barratt Redrow

Barratt Redrow has partnered with British Gas to launch a pioneering housing initiative, offering homeowners free energy for a two-year period. The project, which kicks off at the Pastures Place development in Lincolnshire, marks the beginning of a larger rollout expected to unfold over the next twelve months.

At the heart of the trial are ten homes whose residents will enjoy zero energy bills for heating, lighting, hot water, cooking and standard appliance use. In exchange, participants agree to share data on how they interact with the eco technologies embedded within their homes. The goal is ambitious yet straightforward: to gain a deeper understanding of how real people adapt to living in properties powered by renewable energy.

Pastures Place features a mix of three, four and five-bedroom homes, including affordable options through Shared Ownership. All homes are delivered under the David Wilson Homes brand, which operates as part of the Barratt Redrow group.

The technological backbone of this initiative is provided by Hive, the UK's leading eco-tech brand. Hive's Intelligent Energy Management system uses advanced software to connect and control smart devices across the home. By intelligently managing air source heat pumps, solar panels, battery storage systems, sensors, and bright lighting, the system helps residents maximise the energy their homes generate. It also ensures energy use aligns with times when the grid is under less pressure, making the energy cleaner, cheaper and more sustainable.

Under the offer, eligible households could save around £1,258 per year, roughly £105 per month, based on energy use in a typical new-build property. The deal covers core household energy needs but excludes electric vehicle charging. A fair usage limit of five thousand kilowatt-hours per year will also apply.

Should the pilot prove successful, it could pave the way for broader adoption at a time when households across the UK continue to feel the sting of elevated energy costs.

To gain deeper insights into the initiative's impact, the homes will be monitored in partnership with researchers from the University of Salford. This is not the first collaboration between the university and Redrow. Over the past two years, they have collaborated on research based at Energy House 2.0, a state-of-the-art, climate-controlled testing facility featuring a full-scale net-zero concept home.

Beyond the environmental data, the trial aims to shed light on how energy-efficient living might affect home valuations and mortgage decisions. By tracking household energy performance and consumption, the partners hope to provide valuable insights to surveyors and lenders. The idea is that reduced utility costs could translate into greater disposable income for residents, which in turn may justify better green mortgage terms or enhanced property valuations.

This initiative represents a forward-thinking step in aligning residential construction, energy innovation and financial services to create brighter, cleaner and more affordable living.

Oliver Novakovic, head of technical & innovation at Barratt Redrow, said: “The partnership will see Barratt Redrow and British Gas test a template for delivering low to no bill homes at scale. The trial of free energy bill homes at Corby Glen is an important step forward from the concept homes that we have built at the University of Salford to delivering the learnings into customers’ homes. 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.”

Hamish Phillips, net zero business development director at Centrica, which owns British Gas and Hive, added: “British Gas is proud to bring its trusted expertise into the homes of the future using Hive’s innovative technology. We understand the meaningful difference that smart home solutions can make, not only helping customers save money but also supporting their ambitions to live more sustainably. Our partnership with Barratt Redrow is a strong example of how the right eco-tech empowers people to take control of their energy use and get even more from their homes.”