Tim Abbott - 23-Aug-2007
- The Environment Agency has agreed to sell
nearly four and a half acres of land to
eco-friendly house builder Linden Homes,
to make way for a new market-leading housing
development.
The properties, in Fordbridge Road, Sunbury,
Surrey will form one of the first developments
in England to fulfil the requirements of
the government’s new voluntary ‘Code for
Sustainable Homes’ initiative, launched
in April 2007.
The Code is a mark of quality which sets
standards across a range of categories including
for energy and water use in each property.
The guide, which replaces the EcoHomes policy
rates a three star building as being a currently
achievable target, and places six stars
as the top level ‘zero carbon level’ property.
All new homes will have to comply with
these regulations by 2016. The development
has been set a target to achieve a four-star
rating, which is the highest standard currently
on show in the UK for large scale developments.
During the bidding process, the Environment
Agency, as the landowner, was determined
that any development approved would have
to have market-leading designs in areas
such as energy and water-use, materials,
waste, pollution and ecology. As a result
of these measures, the carbon footprint
of each dwelling will be reduced by around
30 per cent compared with a standard home.
The homes will also be highly water efficient
and will achieve a six-star rating – the
highest available. Compulsory metering,
rainwater harvesting, and underground storage
tanks with supply to toilets, washing machines
and dishwashers in the homes will drive
the average water use per person to below
80 litres a day. This is well below the
national average of around 150 litres per
day.
The site has been home to many construction
activities throughout the years including
a lock gate building, as well as providing
an Environment Agency base, but in recent
years operational activity has reduced and
staff have been relocated to other offices.
Peter Quarmby, area manager for the Environment
Agency said: "We have chosen to sell
the land to Linden Homes for a number of
reasons, including their strong environmental
credentials, commitment to sustainable development
and previous track record for good community
relations.
"One aspect of our design brief was
that the houses should gain a four-star
rating in the government’s new Code for
Sustainable Homes initiative. We believe
that this development will be a flagship
for sustainable housing."
He continued: "We want this development
to bring real benefits to the local community,
including improved access to the River Thames.
We will listen to the communities concerns
and work closely with Linden Homes to address
them."
Paul Cooper, Managing Director of Linden
Homes South East said: "The Lower Sunbury
EA works present a fantastic opportunity
to make good use of previously developed
land. Linden Homes have a proud reputation
of developing quality homes and we look
forward to working with the Environment
Agency and the local community in transforming
this site."
