A PIONEERING project to "Retrofit" two houses at Barbrook, near Lynton, has been given massive Government funding, as they will act as a test site for low carbon building technologies.

The Technology Strategy Board has chosen the Barbrook houses, which belong to North Devon Homes, as one of 87 "test beds" around the UK. It will get a £142,000 share from the Board's £17 million investment in the project.

Key features will include an innovative ventilation system, which provides pre-warmed fresh air.

Recycled newspaper insulation will be used on all of the external walls and the roof to significantly reduce heating demand.

External cladding will use wood that has been sustainably sourced from Exmoor and each home gets a wood pellet boiler and solar thermal system with individual heat metering.

All sites will be monitored and evaluated for at least two years by the Energy Saving Trust.

The Trust will collect data from the retrofitted houses, including internal and external temperature, humidity and CO2 levels.

This will go into a database which can be accessed by researchers, social landlords and energy companies to make sure the most cost effective technologies are employed in future retrofits.

Sophie Phillips from Energy Action Devon, which is completing the work on the two semi-detached houses, said: "We are really looking forward to working with our team of local architects and contractors on this highly innovative project."

Those behind the project acknowledged that the Barbrook test bed would be particularly challenging because it sits in a steeply wooded valley where solar panels would struggle to be effective.

Sophie said: "When complete, these properties will achieve an amazing 94% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, making them far warmer, more comfortable to live in, and with a much better indoor air quality."

Owners North Devon Homes (NDH) have also provided substantial financial backing, and additional funding has been provided through Exmoor National Park Authority, which contributed another £5,000 from its Sustainable Development Fund.

NDH spokeswoman Nicola Smith explained: "The two properties at Barbrook are solid concrete in construction and were identified as requiring modernisation through our Pre-cast Reinforced Concrete project."

NDH then worked with Energy Action Devon on the funding bid.

NDH planned maintenance Manager John Evans said: "We are looking forward to learning from this innovative project and hope to be able to use sustainable modern technology in the future."

And Barbrook tenant Helen Richards said: "We're really glad our house is being refurbished, as it's quite hard to keep it warm. I'm told it will include loads of insulation so I'm looking forward to a much cosier Christmas this year."

Social housing across the UK will be assessed, to see where else the carbon-reducing measures could be implemented.

David Bott, director of innovation programmes, for the Technology Strategy Board added: "At least 80% of the houses we'll be living in by 2050 have already been built, so it is critical that we look at ways to dramatically improve the performance of our existing housing stock.

"Retrofit for the Future provides the test beds we need to ensure the development of long term, mass solutions."