Unique Nottingham development bucks low sales trend

Homes developer Trent Park Developments is bucking the current trend for slow sales with their award winning £50m River Crescent development, in Nottingham. In the three months since marketing of the development began, 15 apartments were sold and, it is said, that buyers are now offering over the asking price to try and secure themselves prime plots.Overlooking the River Trent, this atttactive development comprises 146 apartments in a exceptional location with extraordinary facilities and elegantly designed luxury apartments, many of them featuring balconies or terraces, and boasting spectacular riverside views.

An on-site business suite, concierge service, health club and doctors’ surgery are some of the key facilities which have been incorporated into River Crescent.

Prices start from around £295,000 for a two bedroom apartment to over £1m for the larger penthouse-style apartments. This is the first time that an apartment in Nottingham has reached a sale price of £1m.

Exclusive to River Crescent, the interior design of each show home apartment has been inspired by the world famous fashion houses, ‘Chanel’, ‘Fendi’, ‘Armani’ and ‘Paul Smith’, and created by NDA Private Clients. Purchasers of River Crescent apartments have the option to appoint NDA Private Clients, to create individual interiors to their own brief.

River Crescent won several categories and was the overall winner in the Nottingham’s Evening Post New Homes Awards. The Reader Vote – Best Apartment award was won for the show home ‘Fendi’ apartment.

More information: www.trentpark.co.uk

Timber cladding helps regenerate Maidstone flats

To help regenerate the Parkwood Estate in Maidstone, Kent, turning it into one of the most sustainable developments in the county Kier Construction has used Thermowood cladding from John Brash & Company.The two phase regeneration project, started in 2006 and managed by the Maidstone Housing Trust, will see the initial regeneration of 122 housing association properties and the construction of a further 42 affordable homes, before the end of 2008.

Over 11,000 linear metres of cladding was specified for the project and was used on all external aspects of the new and regenerated buildings to help meet the requirements of EcoHomes. As work started on the development, the properties had to meet EcoHomes ‘Very Good’ rating, which approximately equates to a three star rating on the Code for Sustainable Homes.

On this project, Thermowood cladding was able to improve the sustainability because timber cladding is a good natural insulator, with a typical thermal conductivity of 0.1067 W/mK. Being lightweight also enabled savings on the foundations and masonry-based materials on the new build properties, all of which have high embodied energy contents.

Timber itself has low embodied energy, meaning that harvesting and production has minimal impact on the environment. Timber is also the only truly renewable natural resource being sourced from certified sustainable forests.

Another benefit of Thermowood is that it boast fine aesthetics with the ability to retain its original appearance for years. In addition to this, a specialist heat treatment process ensures it maintains high durability, stability and a lengthy service life

The £18m project aims to encourage diversity and provide a better quality of life for people being reintroduced to the area. Some twenty-two families have moved into their new homes on the Parkwood Estate, with a further 60 due to move in before the end of the year.

John Brash and Company is a specialist timber importer and a UK leading manufacturer of timber cladding. The company also specialises in the supply of roofing battens and scaffold boards, cedar shingles and cedar shakes and anti-slip timber decking.

More information:

Housebuilders scoop four major 2008 brick awards

Housebuilders were amongst the winners in the 2008 Brick Awards run by the Brick Development Association. Apparently competition in four categories was especially fierce. Yet four clear winners emerged: Best Private Housing – the Barge Arm Development, Gloucester; Best Public Housing – Broad Road, Sale; Volume Housebuilding – David Wilson Homes; and Best Craftsmanship – new house at Hayes, BerkshireThe entries were judged by a panel of experts chaired by Edward (Ted) Cullinan, this year’s Royal Gold Medallist for Architecture.

Barge Arm is a new build mixed-use regeneration scheme for Crest Nicholson in Gloucester Docks, on a site formerly occupied by car parks and sheds. It’s made up of two buildings, together providing 84 apartments, around an internal courtyard.

Edward Cullinan Architects designed the development. The brickwork contractors were Cowlin Construction, and Ibstock Brick supplied its Birtley Olde English bricks.

The judges were impressed with development’s ‘empathy with surrounding buildings.’ They added: ‘This new building acknowledges its context by taking clues from the existing warehouses without slavishly copying them.

‘Whilst there are a number of materials used externally, the brickwork provides a unifying theme that is fundamental to the success of the composition. The buildings create a number of external spaces that enhance the experience of living in well designed apartments.’

Broad Road used white brick to reflect light into common areas of this housing development – and that really caught the judges’ eye. It’s a difficult brick to lay but contractor Richardson Projects pulled it off, using Platinum Smooth White brick from Wienerberger to great effect.

Architect MBLA designed the development in an L-shape, forming an open courtyard facing south. It puts some distance between the living rooms and the street and ensures noise from a nearby tramline is minimised.

According to the judges, ‘this building makes the best of what initially appears to be an uncompromising site. The brickwork is exceptionally well laid. Difficult features are skilfully executed, contributing to the striking appearance of this elegant building.’

David Wilson Homes scored a hat-trick with three developments in Hampshire. It designed and built all three, and made exceptional use of brick’s incredible variety.

Heron’s landing in Fareham is made up of 16 contemporary-style two, three and four bedroom waterside homes. It used Ibstock’s Cheddar Red, Cheddar Golden and Audley Red Mixture Stock.

Eton Court, also in Fareham, represented a different challenge. It’s very much in keeping with the former building, and David Wilson Homes went out of its way to provide a new build that closely emulates the surrounds. Again, it chose Ibstock – Parham Red Stock and Berkshire Orange Stock.

And the developer opted for Ibstock again for The Hermitage, in Emsworth. The size of the buildings, the materials, detailing and windows are all in keeping with the look and character of Emsworth. Ibstock provided its Surrey Orange and Surrey Cream Multi bricks.

‘These three schemes demonstrated the developer’s sensitivity to the potential of different sites and a determination to produce high quality homes whatever the location,’ the judges said. They were also impressed by the ‘consistently high level of finish and variety.’

The Hayes House is in a class of its own. ‘If you’re going to use past styles, this is how to do it,’ the judges said. The house – designed by Robert Adam Architects – is in the tradition of those designed by Andrea Palladio around Venice during the 16th century.

The project involved knocking down an existing house and barn, to make way for the new home and garages. The plainness of the elevations meant the choice of brick and the detailing was critically important. Contractor RJ Smith built 12 sample brick panels. In the end, they opted for HG Matthew’s multi-red facing brick, laid in lime mortar.

‘The craftsmanship displayed on this Palladian house is awe-inspiring,’ the judges said.

Everyone concerned with the project – from client to architect to contractor – has demonstrated a determination to produce only the best.

‘The immaculate brickwork with penny-jointed mortar and elegant arches will long stand as a testament to the skill of the bricklayers.’

The Brick Awards are open to anyone, whether they’re architects/designers, owners, developers, housebuilders, specialist brickwork contractors or brick manufacturers. The only stipulation is that for all the awards – aside from the worldwide category – the project must feature clay bricks and pavers made by BDA members.

More information: www.brick.org.uk/awards/2008

Baxi has a renewable solution

Already well known and widely used, solar thermal water heating devices make use of free solar energy and can reduce carbon emissions of a property by up to a tonne per year.

Solar collector panels or evacuated tubes, either fitted onto existing roofs or built into the roof structure of newbuild properties, absorb energy from the sun’s rays and heats a mixture of water and glycol that is sealed into the system. This liquid is then circulated through a dedicated coil in a specially designed cylinder, heating the stored water, which is then available for use at the hot taps.

Ideally, roofs should be south facing, although panels can be installed on either side of an east-west facing roof to capture maximum energy throughout the day. In the summer, up to 100% of domestic hot water requirements can be met using a solar thermal domestic hot water system. In the UK, even on the dullest winter’s day, 100 W/m^{2 can be produced, and the annual average is that about 50-60% of demand can be satisfied. Any extra hot water that is needed can be produced using the conventional boiler and the second coil in the cylinder, or electric immersion heater.}

Ground source heat pumps take the latent heat from the earth via heat collectors, called slinkies, which are buried in the ground. As the temperature of the ground

below a certain depth remains constant all year round, this technology is particularly suitable for the UK’s climate.

The working fluid in the slinky is drawn into an evaporator, and the resulting gas is pushed into the compressor, where its temperature rises to 80oC. The vapour is then drawn into a condenser where it is circulated through underfloor heating where a temperature of 40oC can be maintained. Now a liquid again, the pressure is reduced as the cycle is repeated.

Ground source heat pumps are capable of producing four times more energy than they produce during operation and can offer the largest carbon savings of all renewable products – around 30%, or up to two tonnes a year – as well as significant reductions in fuel bills. Particularly suitable for areas without mains gas, they are easy to install and maintain, and work cleanly and efficiently with minimal impact on the environment.

Air source heat pumps work in a similar way. External air at ambient temperature is passed over a finned heat exchanger, which cools the air and extracts the heat into the evaporator of the heat pump. These heat pumps are easily installed on the roof, wall or can be floor standing and are particularly suitable where the ground space is limited. Ground and air source heat pumps are ideal for those living in areas where mains gas is not available.

Biomass boilers use carbon neutral fuel such as wood pellets, chips or logs from local, regenerated sources to provide a sustainable and environmentally friendly heat source. The carbon released during the combustion process is balanced by that absorbed during the fuel’s production.

Baxi offers a comprehensive range of renewable energy sources: Baxi Solarflo, a solar thermal hot water package; Geoflo, a ground source heat pump package; and Baxi Biomass solid fuel heating. Baxi air source heat pumps and additions to its solar package are already and it is already working on the next generation of renewable and microgeneration technologies.

New product development is mainly focussed around MicroCHP, combined heating and power (CHP), where the domestic boiler also produces electricity.

More information: www.baxi.co.uk

OFT house building study “A waste of time and money”!

The snagging company, Inspector Home, has branded the OFT Study on the house building industry a complete waste of time and money and warn that it will have very negative consequences for new home buyers up and down the country.

They have issued an open invitation to the government, the media and consumer organisations to join them on an inspection or answer phones in their office and discover the reality about the quality of new homes and customer satisfaction.

Stephen Nancarrow, the company’s managing director, contributed to the study and provided statistical data of over 3000 actual reports that directly contradict the statements given in the study today about customer satisfaction.

He says: “On behalf of all past, present and future new home buyers we are bitterly disappointed by the report. We were led to believe by the authors of the report that the OFT were finally going to set stringent standards for the house building industry and they have failed. The reports states that a steering group will be set up to devise a consumer code of conduct which would be a good idea, however none of the members represent consumers, so who is going to speak up for them?”

Inspector Home launched a petition in 2004, lobbying the Government to introduce regulation and protection for buyers of new homes. It wants to see the establishment of a formal regulatory body, legal consumer protection, government-set standards and league tables of property developers.

New Homes are exempt from the Sale of Goods Act – there is more consumer protection covering the purchase of a can of baked beans than a new home.

Of the thousands of new homes inspected by Inspector Home last year, only 1 had zero defects: the worst had 405. This means that many people who should be enjoying living in their “dream” home, are spending time fighting battles to have these faults rectified and are forced to move in to sub-standard homes with no legal right to compensation.

More information: www.InspectorHome.co.uk

Heat pump savings for care home

Residents of the newly built Potteries Court Extra Care Housing Scheme in Swinton, near Rotherham, are reaping the benefits of air-source heat pumps from Danfoss Heat Pumps, formerly ECO Heat Pumps.

The ground floor of the resource centre for the 11 bungalows and 24 apartments built by Chevin Housing Association has been fitted with an under-floor heating system, operated by two 10Kw air source heat pumps. This modern communal area is widely used by the elderly residents who live in the Potteries Court development as it houses a restaurant, lounge, meeting room, kitchen and washroom facilities.

The housing association was very keen to meet the Ecohomes standard and knew that heat pumps would increase its sustainability rating as well as reducing the carbon footprint of the development. As a result, Chevin Housing Association achieved a commendable ‘Very Good’ rating.

Heat pumps are becoming hugely popular for both new builds and refurbishments as they greatly reduce energy bills, compared with more traditional forms of heating. As a completely renewable energy source, they benefit from running costs that are typically 75% lower than conventional systems. This means they normally pay for themselves in five to seven years. Grants are also available for charities or public bodies through the low carbon buildings programme (LCBP).

Air source heat pumps are said to be rapidly increasing in popularity as they require no ground works. Potteries Court also makes use of rainwater harvesting techniques. The system collects surface water from the building’s roof and recycles it in order water the communal landscaped areas. Like the heat pumps, this also contributed to Eco-Homes rating points on this development.

Chris Boucher, project manager of Synergy Housing Solutions, part of the Chevin Housing Group, explains: “We were really keen to use renewable energy sources for the communal areas as all residents pay an annual service charge and fitting heat pumps helps to keep energy costs down. Not only that, but from our point of view as a housing association, they are a fantastic way of helping ensure that new developments achieve both our’s and the government’s regulations on sustainable housing.”

Air source heat pumps work by extracting low-grade heat from the outside air, similar to a refrigerator. However, where a fridge in the home expels heat from the inside to keep it cool, a heat pump will use it to provide heat for the home. The air handling unit draws air across the water-anti freeze solution and transfers this energy into the refrigerant. The refrigerant boils and the gases from this are compressed to produce temperatures in excess of 100_C. This energy is then used to heat the hot water, which is then circulated throughout the home.

Heat pumps are the most efficient method of heating a home because every 1kWh of electricity used to drive the heat pump generates around 4kWh of heat energy. This compares to the most efficient condensing boilers that generated 0.9kWh of heat for every 1kWh of electricity. This gives heat pumps a coefficient of performance of around 400 per cent compared to 75-90% for traditional heating systems

More information: www.ecoheatpumps.co.uk