Stamp duty savings available : Outdoor space, eco-friendly features and energy efficiency are the top three most desirable attributes in a new home according to a recent study, and Barratt David Wilson Homes’ Kingsbrook development offers all three in abundance.* With the recent stamp duty cuts, first time buyers can
Leading UK placemaker, United Living New Homes, has been awarded a Premier Guarantee Quality Recognition Award for its innovative eco-friendly housing development at Shaldon Road, Bristol. The award recognises outstanding developments that have consistently delivered quality workmanship and displayed exceptional site management. Throughout the year, only 100 developments from across
The eco-friendly movement made its way in almost all aspects of our lives. The people deciding to join this noble cause range from those who are completely ride-or-die when it comes to embracing the green mentality to those who simply are willing to change certain behavioral patterns but are not
A £102 million contract has been sealed by Balfour Beatty for the delivery of 302 Zero Carbon Homes near the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The firm will build phase one of the East Wick and Sweetwater development, which involves four mixed use buildings, including 302 apartments, townhouses and duplex residencies
When it comes down to making a garden building more environmentally friendly, there are a couple of key things that need to be considered in order to make this a successful process. Throughout the construction phase, it is important to keep in mind the initial purpose of the building. If
The 15 new eco-friendly houses at Longcot in Oxfordshire, which are now under construction, have received a prestigious accolade for demonstrating ‘national leadership in implementing One Planet Living’. Created by international sustainability charity Bioregional, the One Planet Living is a system for planning sustainable development and keeping them on track
Gap Homes, a concept design of factory constructed, contemporary and cost-effective eco-homes, has been launched by the architects from international firm BDP’s Bristol studio. BDP is sponsoring the Bristol Housing Festival, which opens this week on the 19th of October with the launch exhibition that will showcase creative and innovative
Question: What’s green, clean and can save up to 70% on energy bills? The answer is an eco-friendly affordablehousing development in Feltham, west London, built by Syntec Projects. The forward-thinking construction company was pleased to welcome Hounslow Borough councillors and industry experts to a recent preview of its flagship low-energy
Whether you’re selling your home or just want to make some positive life changes, improving the eco-friendliness is a great way to increase your property value, reduce your costs and reduce your impact on the environment. Insulation By insulating your loft with recyclable materials you can better heat your home
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
Stamp duty savings available : Outdoor space, eco-friendly features and energy efficiency are the top three most desirable attributes in a new home according to a recent study, and Barratt David Wilson Homes’ Kingsbrook development offers all three in abundance.* With the recent stamp duty cuts, first time buyers can save up to £6,250 on homes worth £500,000 which will apply to homes at the brand new phase launching at the Orchard Green village in Kingsbrook. The new phase will be launching on Saturday 8th October and will include 246 one, two, three and four bedroom homes in total, of which 57 will be affordable. The first release will include three and four bedroom homes with prices starting from £425,000, allowing first time buyers and second steppers alike to take advantage of the new stamp duty cuts. The housebuilder’s award-winning partnership with the RSPB ensures Kingsbrook is a development where wildlife can thrive, with over 60% of the development dedicated to green infrastructure including ecological enhancement in the form of: wildflower meadows, ponds, woodlands, orchards, a 250 acre nature reserve, parks and allotments. Incorporated throughout the development are features such as bird boxes; hedgehog homes and highways, so that wildlife can travel safely between gardens; bee hotels and dead wood features, to provide a home for insects and solitary bees; and composting facilities. As a result of these wildlife-friendly measures, a number of key bird species have increased including the Red-Listed house sparrows which saw a rise in breeding pairs from two to 147, whilst bee numbers have more than doubled. Marc Woolfe, Head of Sales at Barratt David Wilson North Thames, commented: “Sustainability is becoming increasingly important to the next generation of homebuyers, and is something we have always prioritised. We’re very proud of our partnership with the RSPB at Kingsbrook and the important strides it has made to not only protect the existing ecology but enhance it – and it’s something that has proven to be an important factor in our residents choosing to live here. The next generation of homebuyers are definitely more concerned with the impact of their home on the environment, and Kingsbrook is a critical blueprint to demonstrate how building homes and protecting wildlife can go hand in hand.” “For this reason, alongside the drive for energy efficient homes as the energy crisis continues, we expect our new phase at the Orchard Green village to be very popular – we’ve already had many local first time buyers enquiring about how much they can save following stamp duty cuts. We want to encourage anyone interested to register their interest online, or come down and speak to one of our fantastic sales advisors who can advise on the many schemes we have to support our customers – like Deposit Unlock and Part Exchange.” All homes at Kingsbrook are built with sustainability in mind and energy efficiency at the forefront of the design, achieving an EPC A or B rating – allowing homeowners to save up to £1,410 thanks to the range of the highest efficiency technology incorporated throughout, including: A-rated condensing boilers; low heat-loss hot water cylinders which ensure water stays hotter for longer; and water savings features and fittings helping to save up to 25 litres of water a day per person. The new phase of homes at the Orchard Green village in Kingsbrook will be launching on Saturday 8th October with prices starting from £425,000. To find out more about Barratt David Wilson North Thames or the new homes at Kingsbrook please visit www.barratthomes.co.uk / www.dwh.co.uk or call 0333 355 8500 / 0333 355 8501 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading UK placemaker, United Living New Homes, has been awarded a Premier Guarantee Quality Recognition Award for its innovative eco-friendly housing development at Shaldon Road, Bristol. The award recognises outstanding developments that have consistently delivered quality workmanship and displayed exceptional site management. Throughout the year, only 100 developments from across the UK are expected to receive this prestigious award – about 4% of the total number of sites inspected by Premier Guarantee. The Shaldon Road development captured the judge’s attention for the high quality of the new homes and the excellent standard of site management, craftsmanship, health & safety performance, site tidiness and general cooperation with the inspectors. As a winner of the Quality Recognition Award, United Living New Homes will be considered for this year’s National Premier Guarantee Excellence Awards, scheduled to take place in the summer. On behalf of leading social housing provider, Brighter Places – and supported by Bristol City Council, Bristol Community Land Trust and Homes England – the £10 million eco-friendly scheme has seen land south of Morris Road, transformed into a carefully designed sustainable community. Built to ‘PassiveHaus’ principles, the energy-efficient properties will provide a high level of tenant comfort, while using very little energy for heating and cooling and minimising each home’s carbon footprint. The development will include two, three, and four bedrooms houses with a mixed tenancy of shared ownership and affordable rent. Solar PV panels will also feature at the development, further reducing costs and a green transport plan which includes electric car charging points, a car share scheme and improved pedestrian and cycle access. Communal green space around the homes is also being created with a dedicated and protected green corridor to enhance biodiversity by providing a safe space for wildlife. The ultra-green project is expected to be completed in early 2022. Jason Ivens, Project Manager, United Living New Homes, said: “We are delighted and honoured to receive this Quality Recognition Award for our Shaldon Road development. It is testament to the dedication, efforts and care of the entire team working on the project. “These eco-friendly properties are a reflection of our company’s wider commitment to deliver high quality, sustainable new homes that suit the needs of the local communities in which we build”. Ian Granger, Account Manager, Premier Guarantee, said: “What a great team effort from Jason and his colleagues, achieving a fantastic product on a challenging site using new and innovative solutions. They are worthy Quality Recognition Award winners”.
The eco-friendly movement made its way in almost all aspects of our lives. The people deciding to join this noble cause range from those who are completely ride-or-die when it comes to embracing the green mentality to those who simply are willing to change certain behavioral patterns but are not willing to make some larger sacrifices and convert all the way. That being said, we can notice a significant increase in people embracing eco-friendly designs in their homes and living environments. This probably stems from the fact that we, humans – as a race – have moved so much away from the nature we originally came from, that we are now looking for ways to come back to it and embrace it once more as much as possible. Since we already know that the kitchen is the heart of every home and we are now increasingly striving towards embracing nature, it only makes sense that we want to make our kitchen designs eco-friendlier as well. Here are some ideas worth considering. Start from the ground up Just like you wouldn’t start building a home from the roof down, you shouldn’t start any redecoration project with anything other than your floors. When it comes to sustainable flooring solutions, reclaimed wood is one of the better ways to go. However, finding enough reclaimed wood can prove to be really difficult. That’s why you should definitely consider going with concrete floors, especially in areas such as the kitchen. These are very durable and easy to maintain, and they can be so versatile you definitely won’t have any difficulties picking the right fit for your desired final look. Decide on the color scheme Next, once your flooring solution is set in place, you should focus on the other base of your design – the walls. Depending on the vibe and design you’re going for, you probably already have a color scheme in mind. However, in order to stay on the eco-friendly track here, it’s important to note that you should pay special attention to the type of paint you choose to go with as well. Zero-VOC and lead-free paints are the ones you should choose for this project as they are safe both for the environment and the people living in your household – yourself included. Add shelter for your dishes Kitchen cabinets are something many associate with being pricey and usually not very eco-conscious to make. However, this way of thinking is very, very wrong, especially when talking about built-in or fitted kitchen cabinets. With these, you can go with an iron or stainless-steel base construction and the only other materials you’ll have to use will be the ones used for kitchen cabinet fronts and countertops. However, do know that you will have to specify clearly that you want to go with this type of kitchen cabinets, as they are still a relatively new concept and not many people are familiar with the idea. Chose work surfaces with care And now comes the fun part – countertops, sinks and other work surfaces. When sinks are concerned, you should definitely go with the ones made of natural stone, as they are super easy to make and look absolutely stunning. Recycled glass is becoming an increasingly popular option for countertops. The reason behind this is the fact that not only are they super sturdy but they also offer a range of color combos and finishes that can fit right in with any kitchen design. Finally, chopping boards are also something you should be very careful when buying. Plastic cutting boards that are most commonly used in households are not very good for either the users or the environment, as they can contain some harsh chemicals, among other things. That’s why you should always try to go with wooden chopping boards that are not only safe to use but look absolutely stunning. That’s why you should look for a charcuterie board for sale and use it both as a nifty kitchen tool and a décor piece when it’s not being used. You can even buy multiple of these and hang them on your kitchen wall so that they can serve the aesthetic purpose as well. Make it light and bright Finally, the lighting in your kitchen must be top-notch. Since the kitchen is the place most commonly filled with sharp objects, hot surfaces and boiling-hot food it’s only normal that you do all in your power to make this area as bright as possible. To stay as eco-friendly and as energy efficient as possible, invest in equipping your lighting fixtures with LED light bulbs. Not only are these very eco-friendly but they are also excellent at mimicking natural light. So, if you are looking to create a sustainable design in your kitchen and make it as eco-friendly as possible, start by implementing some of these changes.
A £102 million contract has been sealed by Balfour Beatty for the delivery of 302 Zero Carbon Homes near the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The firm will build phase one of the East Wick and Sweetwater development, which involves four mixed use buildings, including 302 apartments, townhouses and duplex residencies and a number of associated commercial facilities including retail and leisure amenities. The new homes will contribute to the transformation of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, providing a new, diverse and vibrant part of East London, as well as 1,500 new homes for the community. Around 500 people are expected to be employed at construction peak, with 7% of the workforce made of up apprentices. “This contract award builds on Balfour Beatty’s strong relationship with the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the London Legacy Development Corporation, having constructed the London 2012 Aquatics Centre and delivered transformative engineering works to the London Olympic Stadium. We look forward to providing East London with a lasting legacy by creating a range of employment opportunities for local people and businesses through the development of this new and exciting neighborhood,” said Graham Hill, Balfour Beatty’s Managing Director for its London Regional construction business. This work is the first of seven construction phases for the development and is being supported by equity from Balfour Beatty Investments in joint venture with Places for People and borrowed funding provided by Homes England. Ground preparation works commenced in early 2019 with completion expected in spring 2021.
When it comes down to making a garden building more environmentally friendly, there are a couple of key things that need to be considered in order to make this a successful process. Throughout the construction phase, it is important to keep in mind the initial purpose of the building. If your garden building is going to be utilised for the sole purpose of additional storage, less work and environmental factors need to be considered, whereas if you plan on using your garden building as additional living space, there could be further implications. Premier retailer of quality garden and leisure buildings GBC group have rounded up their top tips for making a garden building more eco-friendly. Design When it comes to design, there’s a key link between space and environmental factors. As with anything, smaller spaces are much easier to heat than larger ones, which makes them not only cost effective but friendlier to the environment. Be mindful of the size of the space you are choosing, if you don’t require a vast amount of space, select something moderate that will be kinder to the atmosphere. Placement of windows The placement of windows can have a significant effect on the eco-friendliness of your garden building. By working out the direction of natural breezes and the positioning of the sun throughout the day, you are able to optimise the amount of sun that will stream through the windows. This in turn should produce a heating effect and should reduce the amount of artificial heating required. Insulation Ensuring you insulate the building both appropriately and correctly is a hugely beneficial step in order to increase how environmentally friendly the building actually is. Using good quality insulation should create a consistent heating effect, by keeping the area cool in the warmer months and trapping heat in during the colder months. This in turn should reduce the need to run any electrical or gas heating and cooling units regularly. Using eco-materials Where possible, be mindful of the materials being used to construct the building. To help save money and minimise environmental impacts, try and source recycled plastic, glass and timber. This process should be much less damaging to the environment than purchasing the materials brand new. Solar Panels Although expensive and dependent on what type of outdoor building it you are considering, investing in solar panels is a potential option. As well as the huge environmental benefits, installing solar panels is a fantastic long-term financial investment within itself. There are a great range of solar panels available, and in most instances the more powerful of the systems simply wouldn’t be required. In general, garden buildings require very little electrical power, therefore the output wouldn’t need to be huge, so a simple set of cost-effective panels should work sufficiently.
The 15 new eco-friendly houses at Longcot in Oxfordshire, which are now under construction, have received a prestigious accolade for demonstrating ‘national leadership in implementing One Planet Living’. Created by international sustainability charity Bioregional, the One Planet Living is a system for planning sustainable development and keeping them on track to achieve their goals. Thanks to their use of timber, wood fibre and hemp-lime in the construction process, the new homes in the Kings Farm Close development will have near zero carbon footprints. Emissions of climate-changing carbon dioxide gas caused by their construction are about 90% lower than for a conventional brick-built new home, while future emissions of carbon dioxide will also be much lower than normal houses as heating requirements will be very low. Oxford Advanced Living, the developer, aims to also enhance the variety of animal and wildflower species on the land in and around the development, which has been used for pasture. A fifth of the site’s total area will be shared green space, planted and managed with native trees to support wildlife. “This was our first project where we also put a real focus on how we could support the creation of a sustainable community. We’re committed to delivering the Action Plan and will continue to evolve the actions as the project develops. We believe that residents will be able to, and will in fact be encouraged to, lead sustainable lifestyles at Kings Farm Close, and we look forward to their feedback to help us with future projects,” said Martin Pike, Director of Oxford Advanced Living. Six of the 15 homes are designated as affordable in one of the most expensive regions of Britain. Four of them will be let to tenants at below market rents by Sovereign Housing Association, and two are for shared home ownership, helping people get on the first rung of the property ladder. Meanwhile, the remaining nine homes are for sale on the open market. The developer and its builders, Greencore Construction, have drawn up a One Planet Living action plan for the new homes covering all aspects of sustainability – social, economic and environmental. This ambitious plan is based on ten easy-to-grasp One Planet Living principles covering issues such as water, energy, wildlife, waste and contribution to the local economy. National Leadership status was granted after Bioregional reviewed the plan.
Gap Homes, a concept design of factory constructed, contemporary and cost-effective eco-homes, has been launched by the architects from international firm BDP’s Bristol studio. BDP is sponsoring the Bristol Housing Festival, which opens this week on the 19th of October with the launch exhibition that will showcase creative and innovative housing solutions. The new Gap Home prototype, designed specifically for small plots of land in towns and cities will also be present. “We are in dire need of new homes for a new generation. BDP’s eco Gap Homes will be quickly constructed, cost effective, sustainable and, most important of all, stylish, comfortable and practical to live in,” said Nick Fairham, architect director in BDO’s Bristol studio. “Disused garage plots on existing housing estates are an ideal location for these homes. Many of them have fallen into disrepair, becoming a magnet for everything from fly tipping to anti-social behaviour. Putting new, attractive and carefully designed houses in their place will not only help deliver much-need new homes, it will also bring new energy and life into these areas, revitalising neighbourhoods and helping to build stronger, more resilient communities,” he added. The eco-homes will be made in hi-tech factory conditions and assembled on site up to 40% faster than traditional construction, helping people move into their new homes sooner. Using smart design to make the best possible use of space, the homes incorporate maximum light and height and sophisticated design and storage solutions to give a sense of space, along with low energy services for modern living. With sustainability at the heart of Gap Home, the factory conditions used for the homes’ construction minimises on-site waste by up to 75% and uses materials that mean the final building has minimal energy requirements for heating, low energy lighting and renewable energy provision through solar panels on the roof, making them low carbon and low in running costs. In addition, due to the standardised elements and factory production, the homes can be produced at volume, keeping prices down whilst helping to meet high demand. A palette of materials and designs will be available allowing people to customise their own homes, including internal finishes, kitchens and bathrooms. The size of garage plots and other small urban spaces means the homes will have a compact footprint. Whilst meeting national space standards they will be an affordable option for first time buyers and those looking to downsize in later life.
Question: What’s green, clean and can save up to 70% on energy bills? The answer is an eco-friendly affordablehousing development in Feltham, west London, built by Syntec Projects. The forward-thinking construction company was pleased to welcome Hounslow Borough councillors and industry experts to a recent preview of its flagship low-energy build. In partnership with A2Dominion, The Woodsman is a range of 2 to 4-bed accommodation for affordable/ intermediate rent, due for completion this autumn. The 1,800sqf site comprises 4 houses and 20 flats, together housing up to 82 people. Significantly, Syntec is one of the first builders to adopt Insulating Concrete Formwork (ICF) in a social housing development. The London-based company has been inspired by home-building models throughout theUnited States and Northern Europe, where ICF is an established method on both large and small developments. Fundamentally, it’s a system that uses insulation instead of formwork, allowing the builder to lay modular lightweight blocks that are then filled with concrete and reinforcement. Managing Director Ronan Bourke says: “ICF is not a new concept, far from it – self-builders in the UK have been using it for the last 40 years. It’s now coming to the forefront due to the necessity to protect the environment by reducing energy usage. With skilled labour shortages and significant increases in the cost of materials, ICF becomes the eco-friendly building product of choice as it only takes one trade to erect and relies on only three materials: Polystyrene, reinforcement and concrete.” He adds: “In America and Northern Europe this type of housing is the norm and the tenants reap the rewards. Not only are their energy bills lower but they enjoy even temperatures with filtered air, so are generally experiencing a better quality of home than their counterparts in the UK.” As a building method, ICF is an incredibly fast process, but the benefits for the householder are where the system really shines: a combination of the airtightness of the ICF system, triple-glazed windows and a heat recovery ventilation system means a much healthier living environment – ambient temperatures with no droughts, condensation or mould; there’s no need for heating due to the highly insulating nature of the product. However, by far the greatest benefit for householders is the savings on their energ bills: comparative data has shown energy savings of up to 70% from traditional methods of build. Another benefit is that outside noise can be reduced by 50db, this being very relevant in Hounslow, home of the sixth-busiest airport in the world. With two layers of insulation and the 150mm of mass concrete, the walls in these buildings become incredibly well insulated against noise. The Woodsman development will have a monitoring system to measure householders’ energy consumption. If any residents are experiencing higher bills than expected, they can be advised on where they are wasting energy (for example, by leaving windows open: there’s no need as temperature is kept constant and stale air exchanged for fresh by the heat recovery ventilation unit.) Ronan adds: “As a company, we believe there’s no reason why goodquality low-energy homes can’t be available to everyone, not just a privileged few. We really want to make a difference. It’s just changing the mindset, moving away from traditional brick building to a faster, modulated method that, in the long term, is more cost-effective.”
Whether you’re selling your home or just want to make some positive life changes, improving the eco-friendliness is a great way to increase your property value, reduce your costs and reduce your impact on the environment. Insulation By insulating your loft with recyclable materials you can better heat your home and consume less energy. While insulating your property can seem like a lengthy and expensive job, it is one that will likely pay for itself in time. The left/roof is the most important part of your property that needs to be insulated, around 30% of your home’s heat escapes through the walls as well, so consider for yourself how much you would like to invest in insulating your property. Plug holes Beware when it comes to covering up drafts in your home. While plugging up holes and cracks in your property can improve your energy efficiency, houses without a good source of ventilation can quickly develop problems with damp, especially old houses that deal with moisture and heat differently. To ensure that you don’t put your property at risk of damp while also ensuring that it is being heated properly, you can enquire into damp proofing services and surveys before tackling your energy efficiency. A damp survey is usually free and you can talk to the expert about the best options available to you. Energy saving There are many energy saving alternatives to products found around the home, including energy saving lightbulbs, kettles, microwaves, shower heads etc. While switching to these products might be a bit more expensive than you expected, the cost is more than worth it. These products tend to last longer than the ones you originally purchase and they can save your money on your energy bills. LED lights, for example, convert more energy into like than they do to heat, meaning that the energy isn’t wasted. You can also install a programmable thermostat to have more power over what parts of your house are heated, reducing heating costs considerably. Better windows The right windows can have a huge impact your home’s energy consumption. To start, double glazing should be a priority. They keep the heat in and the cold out as well as reducing drafts, which makes your heating more efficient and requires less energy to properly heat your property. Thick curtains are also a great insulations tool if you want to go a step further. They can keep your property warm or cool when it needs to be by keeping out the outside weather conditions. Wooden window frames are also more insulating, easier to repair and less polluting to make and they tend to be more attractive than cheap plastic framing, adding value to your property. If possible, keep your blinds or curtains out of the way during the day to make the most of natural light. Strong natural light can prevent the need to use lamps during the day. More natural light can also be useful if you decide to get a few houseplants, which can greatly improve the air quality in your home.
