How Could a £35M Development in Gloucestershire Push Sustainability?
Hayfield, the Solihull-based premium housebuilder has submitted a Reserved Matters Applicated to Tewkesbury Borough Council for 50 new homes in the Village of Gotherington, Gloucestershire. How could the development achieve the gold standard for energy efficiency?
The £35 million, 6,27 hectares scheme is located just north of Bishops Cleeve and will deliver a range of two, three and five-bedroom EPC A-rated homes and bungalows.
Sustainability Measures Such As Air Source Heat Pumps Will Be Implemented
Hayfield has said that the project will help not only add an aesthetic variety to the neighbourhood but will help to meet the continued market demand for single-floor properties.
It will take a tenure-blind approach to delivery, with a total of 20 of the plots designed for affordable housing and the rest for open-market sale.
Sustainability is the focus of the project, with the development being fossil-fuel-free and achieving the gold standard for energy efficiency.
Each of the homes is set to include solar PV panels, an air source heat pump, energy-efficient underfloor heating, increased insulation, water efficiency measures and an electric vehicle charging point.
These sustainability measures align with the housebuilder’s A-rated, zero carbon-ready design principles, which already exceed the UK Government’s Future Homes Standard – a level of specification that will be mandatory for housebuilders to meet from 2025.
The Homes Will Fit In With The Village’s Existing Architecture
Managing Director of Hayfield, Andy Morris, has explained that sustainable developments are crucial to creating future communities and achieving net zero: “Our vision for this scheme has been to demonstrate how impressive a sustainable development can look and the positive impact it can achieve for local communities.
“That’s why in designing this scheme, not only have we harmonised our signature house designs to be in keeping with the village’s existing architecture, but to also introduce sustainable measures that will enable future residents to significantly lower their carbon footprint and household energy usage.”
Inspired by the character of Gotherington’s existing properties, the scheme’s design is said to have taken care to ensure that the new homes complement the village in a sustainable way.
Materials chosen, including stone is reflecting those used throughout the existing village and a new access road and a network of footpaths will be created from Ashmead Drive incorporating the current Public Rights of Ways.
The Development Will Deliver A Biodiversity Net Gain
In addition to this, particular attention has equally been paid to the natural environment. Biodiversity has been prioritised, with new habitats for wildlife being incorporated in the development.
It will see native tree planting and an attenuation pond and wetland wildflowers added, whilst most existing trees and hedgerows will also be retained and enhanced.
Hayfield is currently on-site delivering over 300 homes at eight developments across Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, and Worcestershire.
