Eastney, Weymouth

A Victorian house built in about 1885 in the Rodwell area of Weymouth.

We are in the middle of a 2-stage retrofit project - insulation, solar panels (x33) and air source heat pumps (x3). We are doing our own project management. The project has received advice from Low Carbon Dorset, was partly grant funded by monies from the European Regional Development Fund and has qualified for the Government RHI scheme.

·         Phase I was completed in 2021 - x10 B&B rooms were converted into 3 self-catered apartments. (Currently home to displaced families from Ukraine). One EV charging point.

We reused materials where possible, separated and recycled and tried to select from independent local suppliers with good environmental credentials when buying new. Furniture has been upcycled rather than replaced. The plumber is booked to disconnect the gas in August 2022!

·         Phase 2 is in progress and covers our domestic living space. At present we are adding insulation and installing underfloor heating pipes on a room-by-room basis.

Lifestyle Changes                 What we are doing comes from a long-held aspiration to share resources as an extended family. Our personal family covers 3 generations and our wider Eastney community includes the family next-door (12 people in total) and more recently the Ukrainian families (another 12 people) we are hosting. If anyone needs to “rent a crowd”, let us know!

Outside 5 rainwater butts provide water for growing. We plan to install a large collecting tank at the end of the garden using the natural fall of the land.

There are 19 ex-battery and free-range hens seeing out their retirement in the shared garden areas, keeping us self-sufficient in eggs. The chicken manure is a great compost accelerator, feeding 7 “dalek” style compost bins. We share 3 allotments using “no-dig” chemical free, gardening methods. We are also trying out a food waste anaerobic digester.

Directions & Access             Cyclists welcome – we all cycle and the Rodwell Trail is easy to access. There is parking in Longfield road – please be considerate of our neighbours.

This is an old building with stairs and steps. No lift. Gravel driveway. You may meet Sally, our friendly rescue dog.

Website:              https://www.eastney.co.uk/