Award-winning sustainable housebuilder Greencore Homes has partnered with Octopus Energy, the UK’s largest energy supplier, to deliver eight ‘Zero Bills’ homes at its new development in Launton, near Bicester, Oxfordshire, where residents will pay nothing for their home energy for at least 10 years*. These homes will form part of a wider community of 65 Better Than Net Zero homes across a range of tenures including private sale, First Homes, affordable and affordable rent.
Launched in 2022, Octopus ‘Zero Bills’ is a world-first smart tariff that allows customers to move into homes packed with cutting-edge green tech and no home energy bills for at least 5-10 years, guaranteed.
The eight ‘Zero Bills’ homes, available for private market sale, will come equipped with integrated clean technologies, including solar PV provided by UPOWA, home batteries and highly efficient heat pumps. The homes will also offer a more premium specification including large gardens and double garages with workshops above.
Rightmove data showed home-movers switching from a typical UK home with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band D rating to an Octopus Zero Bills property could save over £2,350 a year on energy bills, underlining the financial and environmental benefits of the ‘Zero Bills’ model. This partnership represents another significant milestone for Greencore Homes, following the launch of its flagship development The Canopies, Milton Heights, and its recent achievement of B Corporation certification. Construction at Launton began in September 2025, with first completions expected in Autumn 2026.
Located on a 5.8-acre site on the edge of historic Launton village, the development features two, three and four-bedroom homes built using natural materials to deliver ultra-low embodied carbon and achieve a net energy balance across the scheme. All homes are EPC-A rated, designed to Passivhaus principles, and will provide exceptional comfort, low running costs and minimal environmental impact.
Designed in collaboration with A’Bear and Ball Architects and Edge Urban Design, the Station Road development combines a mix of detached and terraced properties. The masterplan places a strong emphasis on ecology, with generous areas reserved for wildlife, the retention of established woodland, public green spaces and walking routes, projected to deliver a 23% biodiversity net gain over the existing farmland.
Laura Stone, COO at Greencore Homes, said:
“At Greencore Homes, we’re not simply delivering new homes; we’re redefining what sustainable and Better Than Net Zero living should mean in the UK. By partnering with Octopus Energy, we can bring ‘Zero Bills’ homes to Launton that combine our low-carbon, natural-material construction with the very best in renewable energy technology. These homes will offer exceptional comfort and cost certainty for residents, while showing how communities can transition confidently toward a zero-carbon future.”
Nigel Banks, Zero Bills Director at Octopus Energy, said:
“Our Zero Bills partnership with Greencore Homes is delivering exactly what the future of housing should look like – beautifully built homes powered by smart, low-carbon technology. With solar, batteries and heat pumps working together, residents can enjoy sustainable, comfortable living with no home energy bills guaranteed.”
Launton itself has a rich history, recorded in the Domesday Book, and today offers local pubs, a coffee shop, a primary school, Post Office, church, village hall, convenience store and active sports groups. Nearby Bicester, just 10 minutes away by car, provides major supermarkets, Bicester Village shopping outlet, and fast rail connections from Bicester North to London Marylebone in around 50 minutes.
For more information on Greencore Homes, visit https://greencorehomes.co.uk/