£400k boost helps Ross firm blaze a new trail
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A PIONEERING Easter Ross manufacturer behind a recently unveiled cutting-edge housing development in Alness has been given a major vote of confidence with an investment in its innovative work.
Modular home pioneer Carbon Dynamic of Invergordon has received £400,000 from Centrica Innovations to help in its work designing and manufacturing cost-effective low-energy buildings.
Carbon Dynamic has been working in partnership with the Albyn Housing Society, which is also based in the Easter Ross town, and NHS Highland, to deliver a pioneering smart home initiative aimed at transforming the way health and social care is delivered.
The partnership officially opened its FitHomes development at Dalmore last month, where Carbon Dynamics’ modular home design is combined with advanced technology to provide an environment where vulnerable tenants can live safely in their own homes and provide an alternative to full-time residential care and prolonged stays in hospital.
Carbon Dynamic has also manufactured 11 homes for the Social Bite Village in Edinburgh, which aims to provide a low-cost, safe living environment for people currently living in temporary accommodation and shelters.
Matt Stevenson, managing director of Carbon Dynamic said: "We are dedicated to delivering social, environmental and economic building solutions. We created the FitHomes concept to help Highland residents take charge of their own wellbeing and health needs through innovative technology and design.
"Thanks to the support we’ve had from Centrica, both financially and advisory, we will be able to deliver digital health and assisted living technologies in a way that has not been possible before."
The investment has been made by Centrica’s Ignite social impact investment fund. Established in 2017, Centrica Innovations aims to invest £100 million by 2022 in new technologies that will transform the way people live, work and move.
Sam Salisbury, Centrica Innovations labs director, said: "As a market leader in connected home products, we are always on the lookout for opportunities to solve real world problems with new technology and innovation. The lack of affordable, energy efficient, desirable homes is one that is affecting families across the country so we’re delighted to be able to support an initiative that shows such potential in transforming how people, young and old, live in their homes."
The origins of the FitHome go back to 2008 when a tenant was found dead in his home, having lain unnoticed for over a year. Vowing to put new preventative systems in place, Albyn commissioned research exploring potential solutions. As a result, the society decided to develop its own system that could be adopted across its growing portfolio of homes.
Matt Stevenson of Carbon Dynamic said of FitHomes: "I truly believe that this housing method can change the way that we view construction of new housing developments as well as feeding into the wider healthcare and societal issues."
