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Flagship green homes for Kettering

Posted: 05/01/2008

A midlands based housing association have submitted plans for a pioneering environmentally friendly housing scheme to be built in Kettering. LHA (part of the LHA-ASRA Group) has pledged that the green homes, to be built on three sites in the south of the town, will meet level five of the government’s Code for Sustainable Homes.

It will be the first development in the town to achieve this standard, and one of the first in the east midlands.

The 29 homes have been designed to maximise solar-gain and reduce the need for additional heating. The homes will be built from super-insulated masonry ensuring they remain cool in the summer, and store heat for release in the evenings, avoiding temperature extremes.

Innovative sunspaces will be included in every home. Similar to a conservatory and facing south, they are intended to collect and store the sun’s heat in the winter. The external single glazing can be opened by residents, and the spaces naturally ventilated when necessary. Every home will benefit from solar panels on the south facing roofs, both PV and thermal panels will be installed.

Biomass combined heating and power generation will provide the development with heating and electricity. The biomass system will be housed in a feature building which will also provide an educational demonstration area for the public.

This will include a glass block area in the external wall allowing fuel levels to be visible from the street. The demonstration area will be used for educational purposes, allowing the development to be used as a showpiece for contemporary ecological design. The space will also be used by the local community.

Locally sourced materials and traditional construction methods will reduce the amount of travel to the site and distance of product delivery further reducing the scheme’s environmental impact.

Carbon emissions for heating, hot water and lighting will be reduced by close to 100%.

On-site recycling and sorting facilities will be provided together with composting facilities in each private garden. Bicycle storage points will be provided at each site. Green spaces will be provided as an amenity for residents and a habitat for wildlife.

Robert Nettleton, Group Regeneration Director at LHA-ASRA said: “This will be a flagship scheme that will set the standard for future publicly funded housing developments.

“The project will bring disused areas of land back into use and invigorate the local community with attractive affordable housing. The development will set the standard for future ecologically responsible housing in Kettering and provide a showcase for innovative design techniques.”

LHA has also promised to provide site experience opportunities for students working towards careers in construction trades, in partnership with Tresham College.

The £4.7m development will offer family houses, bungalows and apartments, which will be available for rent and for shared ownership through New Build HomeBuy. LHA has submitted a bid to the Housing Corporation, the national affordable homes agency, for support with the cost of the scheme.

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