‘It’s nice to feel part of a friendly and fun community’

House Beautiful online 04.03.2008

Claire Valentine, 48, moved into her four-bedroom eco house at Great Bow Yard in Langport, Somerset, two years ago. She has three children, Emma, 20, Angus, 18, and Amabel, 16, and a dog named Jarvis.

Claire Valentine and family outside their eco house

'I really wanted an eco house and we were lucky to get one of only two four-bedroom houses in the development. It's really well insulated, built only from sustainable local materials, with solar panels and a rainwater collector, and it's been designed to trap the warmth from the sun, even on cloudy days. We're all very conscious of the elements now; it's quite a different way of living.

‘Another good thing was that the houses have been built on a brownfield site, which was an eyesore and needed redevelopment. I would have had a problem living in an eco house built in the middle of a field.

It's nice to feel part of a friendly and fun community‘We're on the edge of town and we feel part of the town community. Amabel can walk to school and the local sports centre, and just next to us is an old silicone warehouse that's being developed for the community, with meeting rooms, small businesses and a cafe. Until it's up and running, I don't know if the increase in traffic is going to be a problem. But I believe everyone involved in creating the development wants to make it work.

‘There's a lovely mix of ages here, and a strong feeling of community among the residents. As well as our own gardens, there's a community garden, tended once a month by whoever's free. We also have barbecues there in the summer.

‘Moving here has been a leap of faith because it's so different, but so far I feel very comfortable that I've made the right decision.'

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