SCHOOLCHILDREN have proved their green credentials in a competition to design the housing of tomorrow. 

A team from St Joseph’s Comprehensive showed the future is in their hands by trumping seven other South Tyneside schools.

They were judged best at creating ideas for eco-friendly homes for the over-55s.

To do it, they built model buildings out of paper during the third annual South Tyneside Homes’ (STH) Eco-Crib Challenge.

Mark Whittle, director of investment at STH, which manages the borough’s housing stock, described some ideas as “enlightening”.

He said: “It is good to involve children in a competition like this because they are the future and we can learn from them.

“We doubt that we would design a whole house plan on any one idea they come up with, but we hope to be able to take individual elements.

“A number of ideas are fantastic. I’m very impressed. The children from St Joseph’s have done very well.”

About 80 children were split into 17 teams. Each had a mentor from the council, council partner or business community.

They had to find ways of how they might make life better for those living in the borough’s 1,100 sheltered accommodation homes.

The brief stated that the houses - or Eco-Cribs - must provide independent living and be fitted with the latest green technology

Organisers at the Temple Park Centre event, in South Shields, expressed delight at innovations which included new solar panel designs and gyms in homes.

One team even dreamt up a mobile phone app which would allow householders to turn on their heating before arriving home.

Other schools taking part included Hebburn Comprehensive, Harton Technology College and Boldon Comprehensive.

Jane Brough, mentor to a team from South Shields Community School, said: “The Eco-Crib is an environmentally-friendly living space for older people.”

And Mrs Brough, a supported housing services manager with South Tyneside Council, added: “Some of the children’s designs are contemporary and some are futuristic.

“But the whole image of sheltered housing has to change. People think it is about care homes, but it is not.”

STH is currently undertaking a four-year modernisation programme of all its accommodation for the over-55s.

In all, £72m is being spent on these homes and others in South Tyneside.

Work includes fitting new boilers, improving safety standards and modernising communal areas.

The children were also asked to think of a new re-branding name to replace the outdated image of sheltered accommodation.

After team also gave a short presentation to advertise their scheme.

Holly Williams, 14, a South Shields Community School pupil, said: “The ideas we are thinking of are new and creative ways of helping older people.

“Making these designs environmentally-friendly is very important.”

Among those backing the competition were Gentoo, Groundwork South Tyneside and Newcastle, sustainable construction firm Wolseley, and the South Tyneside Manufacturing Forum.

Article from The Shields Gazette