Homes Designed Around People and Planet. Impact First.

Last Thursday, Cornerstone Place’s David Ball welcomed Cllr Danny Meredith (Portfolio Holder for Housing, Rochdale Borough Council) and Cllr Tricia Ayrton (Deputy Leader and Portfolio Lead for Climate Change and the Environment, Rochdale Borough Council) to one of our Rochdale sites for a close look at how we deliver Impact First Social Housing^TM that is affordable to run and net zero in operation.

Why this matters

Too many families are living with high energy costs and poor indoor air quality. Our approach is simple: design homes around people and planet then deliver them at cost under our 0% profit model. By partnering with asset-locked bodies, we keep the value created in the community and align with Local Housing Allowance rents, so residents benefit from low bills and greater stability.

What’s inside the homes

These homes combine modern methods of construction with proven, high-efficiency systems:

• Triple glazing for warmth, comfort and reduced noise

• Rooftop solar PV to generate clean electricity on site

• Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP) for efficient, all-electric heating and hot water

• Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) to maintain fresh, filtered air and capture heat that would otherwise be lost

• Smart monitoring of moisture and CO₂ to support healthy indoor environments and timely maintenance

You can see the councillors pictured in front of the integrated ASHP and MVHR unit on site. Together, these technologies cut running costs and improve comfort, while supporting our target of net zero in operation.

For health, stability and impact

Beyond efficiency, these homes are planned as psychologically informed environments that support wellbeing. Consistent, comfortable temperatures, good daylight, and clean indoor air reduce stressors for residents. Smart monitoring helps housing teams act early if issues arise, protecting both people and the building fabric.

Backed by Local Housing Allowance rents and delivered with Rochdale Borough Council, the result is quality social housing that remains in community hands and serves local people for the long term.

Thank you

This work is a team effort. Our thanks to Jon Scurr (R&M), Cllr Tricia Ayrton (RBC), Liz Varey (Stepping Stone Projects), Cllr Danny Meredith (RBC) and Hannah Courtney-Adamson (RBC) for their leadership and dedication to making these homes a reality.

About Cornerstone Place

We create Impact First Social Housing: 100% social housing, 0% profit. We turn overlooked land and buildings into net-zero, people-centred homes by partnering with asset-locked organisations so the assets stay in the hands of the impact makers.

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