This news follows the agreement last summer of contractual commitments between Barratt Developments PLC, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and South Gloucestershire Council.
After 2 years of testing at it’s prototype Green House site, Barrat began large scale construction of its eco-friendly designs at Hanham Hall near Bristol, in November of last year. Upon their completion, Barratt intends to gradually pass down these eco innovations, to the rest of its product range.
Fortunately, many of the improvements being implemented can easily be applied to existing housing stock. In recognition of the innovative nature of the development, the government has provided an additional £0.8m funding, so that the on-site biomass CHP plant's heat network can be expanded. Originally designed to provide energy to the development's 195 homes; it is hoped that the CHP which utilises renewable fuel to generate relatively clean energy will also be able to supply on-site amenities.
In order to fully satisfy the requirements of the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 6, attention is also being paid to external factors. For instance, it is hoped that the provision of gardens and greenhouses, will encourage residents to produce more of their own food. Similarly, the provision of pedestrian routes to nearby amenities are aimed at reducing reliance on motor transport.
Current government targets require that all homes built from 2016 onwards, meet Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. Although many specialists and self builds' have already attained this level, Barratt aims to be the first mainstream developer to offer "zero carbon" homes to the public on a wide scale. Given the bleak economic climate, reaching this milestone, marks real progress by the private housing industry in meeting sustainable targets.
Public Sector Update
The public sector has also been making advancements in delivering sustainably housing. For instance, North Kesteven Council in Waddington, Lincolnshire is drawing close to completing it's first batch of Code for Sustainable Level 4 homes. The homes have drawn attention from the media, for their use of renewable resources such as straw (see above) to provide thermal insulation whilst also reducing their overall carbon footprint.
In a speech earlier this month, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, David Orr summarised the public housing sector's commitment to sustainability. Orr revealed that whilst 92% of housing association new homes are already achieving minimum standards set for CO2 emissions, only 2% of new homes built by private developers are meeting comparative targets.
If Orr's figures are reliable, then they cast doubt over the present commitment of private developers' to meet Government targets for 2013 and 2016. However, housing news portal 24dash.com reports that a Department for Communities and Local Government spokeswoman defended private builders, saying: "The fact is that all homes will be required to be zero carbon by 2016 and we are introducing legally binding regulations on the private sector.”
She added: "Over 150 organisations, including house-builders, have now put their names to the 2016 Commitment to work together to build 240,000 new zero carbon homes a year within a decade. It's ambitious, but it can and will be done."
With an election hanging overhead, it will be interesting to see whether this issue receives any attention in the ensuing campaigns. That said, regardless of which party takes office, the long-term challenges posed by a rapidly growing population, the implementation of tough environmental targets and funding cuts will have to be addressed if the UK is to maintain upwards standards of living.
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* The Code for Sustainable Homes estimates a new home’s ecological impact, against nine measures of sustainable design. Categories include energy & water consumption, carbon dioxide emissions as well as consideration for the house's impact on the surrounding environment.
Barratt Homes at NewHomesForSale
