PUPILS from Hexham Middle School are helping design homes of the future.

The children from years 7 and 8 have entered a competition with housebuilder Trviselhus by Esh, currently building the region’s first large scale private development of 16 low energy homes at Hexham Gate on Corbridge Road in Hexham.

Staff from the company, a joint venture between the Esh Group and Sweden’s leading housebuilder Trivselhus, are working with the school to help pupils understand what it means to build sustainable homes and how people can all reduce their energy consumption.

As part of the competition, the 11 and 12 year olds have been finding out how the Swedish-built homes are manufactured.

The children visited the site and were shown solar panels on the roof and discussed the concealed duct heating system, as well as getting to grips with the air source heat pump.

Armed with information and ideas, the children have been set a challenge to design their own home of the future.

Maureen Williams at Trivselhus by Esh said: “We have been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and interest of the children who really seem to have a good understanding of what it means to build sustainable homes.

“We have asked them to come back with designs that not only incorporate existing renewable technology, but to think creatively about how our homes could force us to change our own behaviour to ensure we consume less energy.”

Paul Freeman-Myers, project lead at Hexham Middle School said: “This project encourages our pupils to build on a wide range of skills.”

The school will vote on the three final designs which will go on display at the Hexham Gate show home so the public can vote for their favourite.