Developer selected for UK's first zero carbon 'eco village' near Bristol

A new generation of zero carbon homes has moved a step closer. English Partnerships’ Carbon Challenge initiative has selected Barratt as the preferred developer for the former Hanham Hall Hospital, near Bristol. This will be the first large-scale zero carbon community in the country, and will enable a family occupying one of these homes to reduce its carbon footprint by 60 per cent, according to Mark Clare, Chief Executive, Barratt Developments PLC.

The shortlisted developers for South Bank Phase 1, Peterborough, have also been announced, as have those for new sites in Wigan and Doncaster.

Hanham Hall will be home to England’s first eco-village. Homes on the site will meet the Government’s most exacting eco standard – Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.

Hanham Hall was the first site identified under the Carbon Challenge, being run by English Partnerships as part of the Government’s commitment to tackle climate change. The Challenge will deliver zero carbon homes and communities well in advance of this becoming mandatory 2016, and help the housebuilding sector demonstrate that the  targets are feasible and can be commercially viable.

As well as zero-carbon homes this ground-breaking project will create eco lifestyles. It will hand over a listed building to community use, capture rainwater and include sustainable drainage, farmers’ shops, a car club and bicycle storage.

Steve Carr, English Partnerships’ Director of Policy and Economics, said: ‘The winning bid isn’t just environmentally sound – it brings people into the equation to create a truly sustainable community.

‘We are meeting a dual goal – tackling climate change whilst improving housing quality. I am delighted that so many developers rose to the challenge. The winning bid by Barratt tipped the balance because they thought about eco-living not just eco-buildings.’

Hanham Hall is a 6.6 hectare former hospital site near Bristol, incorporating a Grade II listed building. It is anticipated that the site will support up to 200 homes, of which at least a third will be affordable, as well as retail floor space and employment space. The onsite biomass CHP plant will deliver energy to all homes.

The minister also unveiled the six shortlisted bidders for the second Carbon Challenge site – South Bank Phase 1, in Peterborough; and two new sites in the North of England.

The shortlisted developers for South Bank Phase 1 are:

• One Peterborough (a consortium of Crest Nicholson and Bioregional Quintain)
• Gladedale Group
• Carbon Challenge Consortium (Galliford Try and Cross Key Homes)
• Barratt Homes Ltd
• p Pod (Morris Homes, Gentoo and Apollo)
• Gleeson Homes and Stewart Milne Group

The shortlisted developers will now be invited to submit a more detailed response to achieve Level 6 of the Code, by achieving zero carbon, incorporating features to reduce water usage and energy consumption, minimising waste, and increasing biodiversity.  A decision on the final preferred developer at South Bank Phase 1 is expected early next year.

The two new Carbon Challenge sites announced today are both in former coalfield communities, devastated by pit closures in the 1980s – Brodsworth Colliery in  Doncaster and Bickershaw Colliery in Wigan.  Expressions of interest in both sites will be invited via OJEU in January.

Background
The key aspirations of the Challenge are to:

• raise environmental standards – development will achieve Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes – zero carbon, minimal water use (80 litres per person a day), building materials from sustainable sources, diverse ecology);
• deliver high-quality design combined with exceptional environmental performance – homes that keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer;
• drive down construction and supply chain costs through economies of scale – while aiming to approach zero carbon;
• incorporate lifestyle features that cut emissions within the community through good designs that encourage behavioural changes in the use of electrical appliances such as televisions and computers, and include changes in transport, waste collection and food delivery; and
• ensure that affordable and low cost homes are included, especially for families.

Working alongside the preferred developer for Hanham Hall are HTA architects, ARUP, Kingspan Offsite and Sovereign Housing Group. The Barratt team includes Kingspan building systems suppliers and ARUP, the team behind the prototype Code Level 6 home at BRE’s Innovation Park in Watford. Some of the team bring lessons from the pioneering BedZed low energy housing development in West London. Barratt proposed a Combined Heat and Power plant on site to both heat and provide electricity to homes, rejecting micro renewable energy solutions such as roof mounted wind turbines and solar panels.

Barratt Developments PLC were selected as preferred developer at Hanham Hall by an evaluation panel advised by members from BRE and the Department for Communities and Local Government, a representative from South Gloucestershire Council together with appointed consultants ENTEC and Jacobs.

Briefing sheets on heritage,  construction methods, housing design and sustainability is available to download from the Carbon Challenge page.

South Bank Phase 1 in Peterborough is 7 hectares in total and is expected to support 450 homes.  English Partnerships owns 1.7 ha and Peterborough City Council and the East of England Development Agency own the remaining land.