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Eco-homes planned
Eco-homes planned
for new development
MORE than 50 eco-homes will be built in a new green development at the Officer's Field on Portland.
A deal has been struck with Poundbury-based developer Zero C for 55 new homes on the Underhill site featuring the latest environmentally-friendly technology.
As part of the agreement between Zero C and the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA), the existing football pitch will remain and up to £500,000 will be invested in local leisure and community facilities.
The housing project aims to generate at least 50 per cent of its energy from renewable sources, with a biomass boiler used to provide heat and power for the development.
The eco-homes will boast green features such as solar thermal insulation and two electric cars will be available for residents to use on a pooled basis.
Head of regeneration at SWRDA Bruce Voss said: "We are wholly impressed by the submission by Zero C in this scheme and their appointment will assist the aim in securing a low carbon development by 2011 at Osprey Quay.
"SWRDA is committed to making all its investments net zero-carbon by 2013 and this is also a very important step in the wider development of a low-carbon economy in the South West."
Mr Voss added that the homes on the development would be mainly designed for families, with 30 per cent designated as affordable housing to meet urgent housing needs.
He said: "We have already invested millions in Osprey Quay and we are absolutely committed to achieving the greatest possible community benefit for the area."
Cornhill Estates, whose award-winning works included an eco-friendly development in Poundbury, was rebranded this year under the name Zero C to highlight its commitment to sustainable housing.
Managing director Kim Slowe said: "We are delighted to have been chosen to work with SWRDA, local partners and the local community to deliver this exciting, groundbreaking package of new homes for sale and rent that embraces sustainability at every level.
"We will work with all the stakeholders to provide much-improved community and leisure facilities to the highest design standards to create a lasting legacy for Portland."
Zero C will be holding an exhibition and public consultation exercise in September before drawing up a planning application for the scheme, with the aim of completing the development by 2011.
11:48am Wednesday 23rd July 2008
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CommentPosted by: Ask Archie, Weymouth on 11:51am Wed 23 Jul 08
[quote]Mr Voss added that the homes on the development would be mainly designed for families, with 30 per cent designated as affordable housing to meet urgent housing needs.[/quote] [quote]quote[/quote] needs to be a lot more than this to help the local situation.Why not build some normal cheap bog standard housing that local people can really afford?
Mr Voss added that the homes on the development would be mainly designed for families, with 30 per cent designated as affordable housing to meet urgent housing needs.
quote
needs to be a lot more than this to help the local situation.Why not build some normal cheap bog standard housing that local people can really afford?
Posted by: Oliver Holt, Wyke Regis on 12:43pm Wed 23 Jul 08
One thing that everyone seriously needs to understand is that green living saves you money. If they built bog-standard homes, the heating and lighting bills would be harder to afford than building a more expensive but energy efficient home.
UK homes are extremely inefficient. If the average Briton made their insulation, lighting and heating just 50% efficient, they would save a third on their bills - an ever-increasing amount nowadays.
Affordable housing cannot just be cheap - it also has to be affordable to live in.
One thing that everyone seriously needs to understand is that green living saves you money. If they built bog-standard homes, the heating and lighting bills would be harder to afford than building a more expensive but energy efficient home.
UK homes are extremely inefficient. If the average Briton made their insulation, lighting and heating just 50% efficient, they would save a third on their bills - an ever-increasing amount nowadays.
Affordable housing cannot just be cheap - it also has to be affordable to live in.
Posted by: JamesY, Dorchester on 1:34pm Wed 23 Jul 08
The bid that i, and a friend, put together involved forming a community land trust and developing a full complement of affordable, low carbon homes. Experience with low carbon building elsewhere in the country shows that it should be perfectly possible for all of these homes to be affordable.
And i fully agree with Oliver - sustainable buildings offer far greater energy efficiency than conventional builds and thus there is a saving on both build and maintenance costs.
The bid that i, and a friend, put together involved forming a community land trust and developing a full complement of affordable, low carbon homes. Experience with low carbon building elsewhere in the country shows that it should be perfectly possible for all of these homes to be affordable.
And i fully agree with Oliver - sustainable buildings offer far greater energy efficiency than conventional builds and thus there is a saving on both build and maintenance costs.
Posted by: DingDonG, Wilds of Wiltshire on 7:39pm Wed 23 Jul 08
I will also believe the project if the houses are built of Portland stone, Dorset timber & local labour.
Bricks from China, Brazilian wood and Polish labour should NOT be on the menu.
Oh, and 100% gas energy from the proposed gas storage project.
I will also believe the project if the houses are built of Portland stone, Dorset timber & local labour.
Bricks from China, Brazilian wood and Polish labour should NOT be on the menu.
Oh, and 100% gas energy from the proposed gas storage project.
Posted by: JamesY, Dorchester on 8:02pm Wed 23 Jul 08
[quote][bold]DingDonG[/bold] wrote:
I will also believe the project if the houses are built of Portland stone, Dorset timber & local labour. Bricks from China, Brazilian wood and Polish labour should NOT be on the menu. Oh, and 100% gas energy from the proposed gas storage project. [/quote] Some very interesting things being done with straw bales - little piggy stuff. As strong as traditional construction, great thermal efficiency, no fire risk (because of density) and totally carbon neutral. There are 10 homes being built in North Dorset usng this technique. The waste straw from the UK wheat harvest would be enough to build between 300 and 400000 homes each year.
DingDonG wrote:
I will also believe the project if the houses are built of Portland stone, Dorset timber & local labour. Bricks from China, Brazilian wood and Polish labour should NOT be on the menu. Oh, and 100% gas energy from the proposed gas storage project.
Some very interesting things being done with straw bales - little piggy stuff. As strong as traditional construction, great thermal efficiency, no fire risk (because of density) and totally carbon neutral. There are 10 homes being built in North Dorset usng this technique. The waste straw from the UK wheat harvest would be enough to build between 300 and 400000 homes each year.
Posted by: nige, dorchester on 8:37pm Wed 23 Jul 08
[quote][bold]DingDonG[/bold] wrote:
I will also believe the project if the houses are built of Portland stone, Dorset timber & local labour. Bricks from China, Brazilian wood and Polish labour should NOT be on the menu. Oh, and 100% gas energy from the proposed gas storage project. [/quote] You can either have cheap, affordable housing...OR you can use Portland stone and Dorset timber....but you can't have both.
DingDonG wrote:
I will also believe the project if the houses are built of Portland stone, Dorset timber & local labour. Bricks from China, Brazilian wood and Polish labour should NOT be on the menu. Oh, and 100% gas energy from the proposed gas storage project.
You can either have cheap, affordable housing...OR you can use Portland stone and Dorset timber....but you can't have both.
Posted by: Ask Archie, Weymouth on 12:14pm Fri 25 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Oliver Holt[/bold] wrote:
One thing that everyone seriously needs to understand is that green living saves you money. If they built bog-standard homes, the heating and lighting bills would be harder to afford than building a more expensive but energy efficient home. UK homes are extremely inefficient. If the average Briton made their insulation, lighting and heating just 50% efficient, they would save a third on their bills - an ever-increasing amount nowadays. Affordable housing cannot just be cheap - it also has to be affordable to live in.[/quote] Building regs now cover insulation etc without having to go to the expence of stuffing the walls with straw sheeps wool and vegetarians!
Oliver Holt wrote:
One thing that everyone seriously needs to understand is that green living saves you money. If they built bog-standard homes, the heating and lighting bills would be harder to afford than building a more expensive but energy efficient home. UK homes are extremely inefficient. If the average Briton made their insulation, lighting and heating just 50% efficient, they would save a third on their bills - an ever-increasing amount nowadays. Affordable housing cannot just be cheap - it also has to be affordable to live in.
Building regs now cover insulation etc without having to go to the expence of stuffing the walls with straw sheeps wool and vegetarians!
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