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Green homes for model Dorset village

Posted: 16/01/2007

Eleven new green homes have been completed at Prince Charles's model village of Poundbury, in Dorset. The five houses and six apartments include energy-saving features such as solar-powered hot water and loft insulation made from sheep's wool. Other environmentally friendly ideas used in the properties are harvesting rainwater for use in flushing toilets and photovoltaic roof tiles, which it is estimated will provide one third of the homes' annual electricity demand.

The homes also incorporate heat recovery ventilation systems which extract warmth from the kitchen and bathroom, transferring it to the living areas.

All the homes have received top National Home Energy Ratings (NHER)and three of the properties are now occupied.

Poundbury is the latest attempt at the model urban village. Situated on the outskirts of Dorchester, it was conceived by Prince Charles in 1988. It represents his vision of a sustainable and inclusive community with integrated affordable, social and private housing.

Poundbury was designed by Leon Krier with a plan featuring architecture of various materials and styles. All the key elements of the archetypal village have been incorporated into its design, but with an emphasis on 21st century living. Streets are narrow and many double as pedestrian paths. Most parking is in rear alleys.

Everything has been done to create a pedestrian ‘experience’ which is surprising and charming with variations in street widths, textures, vistas and open spaces. The village was built on land owned by the Duchy of Cornwall.

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