|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
news |
Planning permission passed for zero-carbon homes in Bridport
Charles Couzens, Director of Ecos Homes comments: “We are extremely pleased to have planning permission from West Dorset District Council and will be working hard to give equal weight to environmental and social issues. This project will give us the opportunity to demonstrate sustainable design and construction in practice and prove there is demand for low carbon homes. It will also encourage other developers to consider the benefits of building sustainably.” Ecos Homes’ mission is to persuade planners, builders, developers and estate agents of the practicalities of building sustainably, and prove that this type of development meets a real, and as yet unsatisfied, demand from house buyers. The project at Bridport is the third sustainable development that Ecos Homes has embarked on – the Company has also built 12 award-winning properties that form a mixed use development at Great Bow Yard in Langport and has recently started work on five near zero-carbon homes at Stawell, near Bridgwater. Charles continues: “Ecos Homes held a meeting on Monday to answer queries from local residents and general enquiries. Some concerns were raised and we want to make sure that these have been fully addressed. “The original design of the homes has been carefully revisited. The visual impact of eco-features, such as solar panels, has been balanced with characteristics that make the homes blend with the surrounding properties and wider architecture of Bridport. The height of the homes has been reduced to minimise overshadowing and windows have been positioned in such a way that overlooking is avoided. We have feedback from the District Council Design and Conservation Officer that the homes will make a positive contribution to the conservation area. “Further to a previous application by a different company that proposed to build nine properties at the site, Ecos Homes will build five homes, which is in line with government requirements for development density near town centres. “Access to the site has been approved by the Dorset County Council’s Highway Agency, and we believe that now the site is not being used for 30 garages, there will be a reduction in traffic. Seven parking spaces have been allocated for the five homes and, being two bed properties, we do not therefore envisage a surplus of vehicles needing additional parking spaces. “The team at Ecos Homes is very aware of this sensitive location and our aim is that the homes will support the environment and surrounding community, whilst providing a healthy and efficient living space for residents. We believe that poor quality homes which are cheap to build, and increasingly expensive to heat, are no longer acceptable.” In order to meet Code Five criteria the homes will have heat exchangers to deliver heat to the essential living areas, incorporate exceptionally high levels of insulation and provide an offset to electrical costs with solar photovoltaic panels. The passive solar design will make maximum use of the sun's energy and solar panels will provide hot water. Natural paints and plasters will be used throughout to give a healthy internal environment. The homes built at Bridport will be available on the open market. Prices are yet to be announced but will be in line with the average for the area. The homes being built in Bridport will not be low cost houses because of the price paid for the land. However, Ecos Homes is involved with a low cost housing scheme in Somerset, which will offer shared ownership options. Charles concludes: “We see this as a very exciting venture and we look forward to working on this project with the Town Council and the Bridport community.” |
© Ecos Homes (Ltd) 2007 |
|
