Dec 14,
2007 -- M2 PRESSWIRE
Preferred developer announced for Hanham Hall, near Bristol Shortlisted
developers announced for South Bank Phase 1, Peterborough New sites
announced in Wigan and Doncaster
Housing and Planning Minister Yvette Cooper today announced details of the
housebuilder who will build England's first eco-village.
Barratt Developments PLC has been selected by English Partnerships, the
Government's National Regeneration Agency, as the preferred developer to
create a new community at the site of the former Hanham Hall Hospital near
Bristol. 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.
Yvette Cooper said:
"We have set a world-beating target that all new homes must be zero carbon
by 2016. People said this couldn't be done, but, in fact, this first Carbon
Challenge site shows that developers are already preparing to build the
first major development of zero carbon homes.
"We want to build more homes but also to higher standards. We've set up
plans for ten eco-towns. These Carbon Challenge eco-villages are now leading
the way, showing what can be done. This marks a revolution in the way we
design and build homes."
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."
Mark Clare, Chief Executive, Barratt Developments PLC said:
"Barratt fully supports the zero carbon objective and we want to make as big
a contribution as we can as quickly as we can. We are delighted to be asked
to deliver this ground-breaking project, which will be the first large-scale
zero carbon community in the country. It will enable a family occupying one
of these homes to reduce their entire carbon footprint by 60 per cent. "
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)
* Gladedale Group
* Carbon Challenge Consortium (Galliford Try and Cross Key Homes)
* Barratt Homes Ltd
* P Pod (Morris Homes and Gentoo)
* Gleeson Homes and Stuart 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.
For further information on the Carbon Challenge, contact Gemma Bird at the
English Partnerships press office (020 7881 1054 / gemmabird@englishpartnerships.co.uk)
Images can be downloaded at http://www.englishpartnerships.co.uk/ccimages
Notes to Editors
1. The Carbon Challenge is run by English Partnerships on behalf of
Communities and Local Government to accelerate the house-building industry's
response to climate change by fast-tracking the creation of several zero
carbon housing developments. It will deliver a number of homes in different
locations that meet Code for Sustainable Homes Level 6 in a high-quality,
sustainable setting.
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.
2. 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 BREs 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.
3. 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.
4. Briefing sheets on heritage, construction methods, housing design and
sustainability will be available to download from http://www.englishpartnerships.co.uk/carbonchallenge
from Friday 14 December or by request from gemmabird@englishpartnerships.co.uk
5. 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.
6. English Partnerships is the government's national regeneration agency
delivering high quality, sustainable growth in England. We do this by
developing our portfolio of strategic projects and acting as the
government's advisor on brownfield land. We also ensure that surplus public
sector assets are used to support wider government objectives. English
Partnerships helps create communities where people can afford to live and
want to live. Information on projects and programmes can be found at http://www.englishpartnerships.co.uk
English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation are working with the
Department for Communities and Local Government to establish the proposed
Homes and Communities Agency.
7. Barratt Developments PLC is Britain's best-known homebuilder, with an
approximate 12 per cent share of the UK market. Barratt Developments
acquired Wilson Bowden PLC in April 2007. The company now employs 6,900
people and has a network of homebuilding divisions strategically located
throughout Britain. These divisions trade under the Barratt Homes, David
Wilson Homes and Ward Homes brands.
Public Enquiries: 020 7944 4400; Email: press@communities.gsi.gov.uk News
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