Free electric car deal for buyers of Citu homes

Citu is looking to nurture a behavioural shift in the way in which people live and is launching the Catalyst Programme which offers three purchasers the opportunity to adopt a low-carbon lifestyle and document their first year living in the district. They will play a vital role in setting the tone and shaping the future development of the neighbourhood.

The programme is set to offer three buyers an electric car, leased for three years, and a new personalised bike. In return they will document their experience of living in an energy-efficient, low carbon home so Citu can use the feedback.

Construction is already underway on the first timber-framed Citu Homes which are being produced under controlled conditions in its onsite factory, Citu Works. They feature solar panels and green roofs and will be ready for occupation in autumn this year. When complete, the Climate Innovation District will feature 520 low carbon homes alongside leisure facilities, offices and climate-resilient public realm.

Chris Thompson, Managing Director of Citu, says: “Our reasons for launching the Catalyst Programme are two-fold. Firstly, we know that when you purchase a home in the Climate Innovation District, you commit to living in one of the most energy efficient houses in the UK. However, just because we give people the sustainable technology – whether that's solar panels on their homes or electric car charging ports – it doesn't necessarily mean they'll change their behaviour. We want people living in the district to reduce their wider carbon footprint by travelling around the city centre in a more sustainable way.

“That's why we're offering each of the three selected buyers on the programme a brand new electric car, leased for three years, which can be charged at electric car charging ports available at every parking space in the district. They'll also receive a new personalised bike so that can opt to leave their car at home.

“Secondly, we realise that we're doing something that's never been done before by creating a low-carbon neighbourhood of this scale, and this involves us constantly learning and innovating. The opportunity to find out as much as we can about how our homeowners experience living in their Citu Home, and the wider district, is key for us both to support the claims we make about the energy efficiency of our homes – and to inform future developments. Buyers on the Catalyst Programme will provide us with vital information on the tangible benefits of living in a Citu Home, including energy usage.

“They'll also provide invaluable feedback and will help us to spread the word on life in Climate Innovation District through blogs and social media. There are so many elements to our eco-friendly homes, which can sometimes sound quite techy or complicated, but the real-life experience is simple and straightforward.”

The Catalyst Programme is available on three of the four-bed riverside homes, priced from £380,000. Applicants have until August 10 to apply for the Catalyst Programme. Contact: 0113 320 2357 or [email protected]. www.citu.co.uk