 Back Latest news from Green Building Press Subscribe to our newsletter
Experimental Green Homes For Fenland
Posted: 13/10/2006
Work has started on an experimental new green housing project in Fenland. The scheme aims to combine affordable house-building with sustainability and environmental performance, as well as comfortable community living. The construction of 106 new houses in the Cambridgeshire towns of March and Chatteris will provide homes for both private buyers and housing association tenants.
The building process will be a demonstration and training scheme involving English Partnerships, the Housing Corporation, Fenland District Council and SmartLIFE, a joint venture between Cambridgeshire County Council and BRE. Fenland District Council and Home Group, one of the largest housing providers in the UK, are key partners in driving forward the development.
The project has been developed to demonstrate how well modern methods of construction work. Its unique aspect is the extent to which every step of the construction process will go under the microscope to assess issues such as build speed, build quality, the sustainability of the construction process and the post-occupancy performance of the resulting houses, including energy efficiency.
"This development will provide more data than the industry has ever had before on the reality of using modern methods of construction,' said Richard Harrington, East of England Area Director for English Partnerships.
Three innovative construction systems will be used - the Fusion StIF(tm) panelised steel frame system, the Pinewood Structures panelised timber frame system and the Polarwall Insulating Concrete Formwork (ICF) system. The systems will be used to build approximately 60% of the homes, which will be a mix of terraced, detached and semi-detached properties with two, three and four bedrooms. The other 40% will be built using traditional 'brick and block' methods.
The effect of the 106 new homes on the environment and locality will be assessed both during and post construction. Measures will be taken of the proportion of ecologically valuable habitat created or retained within the area. Finally, the whole life performance of the finished buildings will be assessed to examine issues such as energy efficiency based on the manufacture, installation, maintenance, repair and replacement of key components.
Each design has had to show how it reflects local and national guidance in terms of design and the creation of sustainable communities. In addition, the designs comply with Housing Corporation Scheme Development Standards (SDS). In terms of site layout, comfort and security are important. The layouts are designed to promote creative children's play and encourage residents to use their streets in ways that reduce social isolation, particularly amongst older people. Each site is aiming for Secured by Design accreditation, which focuses on issues connected with crime prevention.
In addition, each home is designed to optimise sunlight and daylight use to minimise energy consumption. Gardens have been position for maximum benefit - South-facing, wherever possible - with minimal 'over-shading' from trees and other buildings. Energy-efficiency best practice will be adopted with wall construction U-values of at least 0.27 w/m2K.
Overall, the development must achieve a minimum EcoHomes rating of 'Very Good' - EcoHomes is the homes version of BREEAM, the BRE Environmental Assessment Method, which balances environmental performance with the need for a quality standard of living. The issues assessed are grouped into seven categories: energy; water; pollution; materials; transport; ecology and land use; health and well-being.
The development will help to tackle the current demand for housing in the Fenland area, with more than 38 per cent of the 106 properties designated for rent or shared-ownership, the rest for private sale.
Green Building Press
Back Latest news from Green Building Press Subscribe to our newsletter
1635 |
