Get a whole year of cutting-edge eco-building news for just £24.00 pa.
Built upon 30 years of experience, this fabulous new medium will feature inspiring and in-depth articles on eco-building projects from across the spectrum and from all over the UK, most of which are written by the very people that designed or built them. Perfect for architects, builders, developers, self builders and anyone interested in keeping right up-to-date with green building trends and friends.
For subscription options:
please go here
|
|
|
South Sheilds level 6 homes inspired by penguins |
|
 
|
|
|
|
14 Apr 2011, 9:45 PM
|
Antarctic penguins proved an unlikely inspiration for some of the greenest homes now under construction in the North East. Work is now underway on 21 carbon-negative homes at Reed Street, South Shields - and their design was partly inspired by the way penguins huddle together to survive extreme cold, says Lynda Peacock, Group Director of Development and Regeneration at Four Housing Group. Extreme conditions in the Antarctic see several thousand emperor penguins huddling together to reduce the amount of surface area exposed to the north wind, thus retaining heat in spite of the bitter cold.
|
The new homes are designed to imitate the penguins, with the main habitable rooms facing south and exposed northern elevations kept to a minimum. This maximises the natural heat and light from the sun, helping residents save money on bills as well as reducing the development’s environmental impact.
The £3.6m scheme is set to create 21 carbon-negative homes on a former car park in the Rekendyke area of South Shields. The homes will be among the first in the country to not only meet, but exceed Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, the highest possible score.
The scheme, which has received £1.7m in funding from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), has been designed by Sunderland-based Fitz Architects in partnership with Four Housing Group and Groundwork South Tyneside and Newcastle.
“The Reed Street scheme will help to set a new standard for green living in the North East,” said Anne Mulroy, head of area at the HCA. “The new carbon-negative homes will put South Tyneside at the cutting edge of sustainable construction, as well as improving a key gateway to the town’s riverside regeneration area."
“The Homes and Communities Agency is all about supporting local ambitions, and this is a great example of our local approach in action.”
Innovative use of green technology will help the development achieve its green credentials, with £300,000 invested in solar photovoltaic panels. The homes will also benefit from a biomass heating system, with high levels of insulation and render also helping to minimise heat loss.
Four Housing Group’s Lynda Peacock added: “The Reed Street scheme uses exceptional design and orientation to take full advantage of natural resources, cutting carbon and producing extremely energy-efficient homes."
“It is expected that by 2016, this standard of build will be the ‘norm’ for all new homes being built. At Four Housing we are looking forward to leading the step-change towards wholly sustainable developments and are grateful to both the Council’s planners and the Homes and Communities Agency for supporting this level of innovation.”
Ponteland-based contractor and house-builder Galliford Try has been chosen to develop the site, and Four Housing Group, which is the parent organisation of Berwick Borough Housing and Three Rivers Housing, will own and manage Reed Street. The Reed Street scheme is one of a number of housing and regeneration projects supported by the Homes and Communities Agency in South Tyneside. Others include the regeneration of Cleadon Park, where the HCA is helping Isos Housing Group to create over 700 homes, the development of new homes for older people at Rackly Way in Whitburn, and construction of new Council homes at Sheridan Road and Druridge Crescent in South Shields.
|
|
|
|
