We Are England: Money and Me A Home without Bills? (S2022EP84 Friday 4 November 2022)

Money and Me A Home without Bills?: Former professional football player Scott Golbourne (Bristol City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Barnsley, Exeter City) was seeking a new challenge after hanging up his boots for good. With his best friend and business partner Cameron Wright, a former teacher, he has been managing a property development company for the past few years. They currently own 20 homes in Birmingham, with a particular emphasis on the market for social housing.

Scott and Cameron are determined to find ways to help their tenants by keeping the costs on their properties low because they have both witnessed family members suffer in subpar housing and because the cost of living is only going up. To accomplish this, they want to gain as much knowledge as they can about carbon-efficient homes so they can apply it to a collection of homes they recently bought in Gravelly Hill, Birmingham.

The UK’s first retrofitted zero carbon home, “The Zero Carbon House,” is owned by architect John Christophers and is located in Balsall Heath, Birmingham. The home, which was formerly a Victorian terrace, was occupied by John and his wife Jo 14 years ago. By making the home 95% energy efficient during that time, they have paid absolutely no energy bills. In Edgbaston, Birmingham, Scott and Cameron also stop by a brand-new social housing development. The new apartment complex known as “Project 80” was constructed by the housing developer Midland Heart. The apartments were created to adhere to the new housing efficiency standards, which will apply to all new construction beginning in 2025.

Scott and Cameron then travel to the Forest of Dean to meet Nancy, a local who is having the estate managers renovate her home. Will the improvements to her property enable her to contain costs as winter sets in, and will Scott and Cameron learn enough practical knowledge to apply it to their projects?

Airdate: Friday 4 November 2022 at 19:30 on 

Season 2022 Episode 84

Exploring the issues people care about, as told by them – from across England. It’s a reflection of the opinions and changing face of the nation.