Pictured: An eco home by developer Tesni Homes.  View more details of this property.

“As a local business owner and mum, I try to make responsible decisions that will benefit the area and my family.  It’s important to me now more than ever that I take the environmental responsibilities we all have seriously and act to preserve our beautiful part of the country.

“Oswestry is a traditional area; the trend for building eco homes that started down south seems to have almost avoided us entirely until recently.  But there is a new generation of educated urbanites moving into town who expect their new homes to be affordable both to buy and run.

“Don’t be put off by the term ‘eco home’; they are in fact just better homes.  Any stigma that used to surround them – uncomfortable, ugly or you have to be a certain type of person to live in one – are long gone.  All over the country, beautiful eco homes are challenging the stereotype and showing that we can live how we want to live, but responsibly too.

“Step forward Tesni homes, who until recently were focused on UK renewable energy provision. Their entrance into the development business is filling a gap locally of homes with an incredible EPC ‘A’ rating.  The properties on their Morda Road development feature dual-fuel log-burning stoves and velux sun pipes to enhance natural light.  The buzz around the properties resulted in them selling the first home on its opening day.

“Other developers are being forced to follow suit, with Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) - used to assess a dwelling’s energy performance - becoming ever tighter.  Standard double glazing will have to be replaced with triple glazing and solar panels and ground source heating will become the norm on new developments.

“Oswestry is ready to progress and the cost-effective nature of running an eco home will suit the pockets of our buyers.

 “Putting my money where my mouth is, I will be investing in The Marches School’s Solar Dome Project; to create an exciting outdoor classroom space and conservation area.”