Consortium chosen to build Peterborough zero CO2 Homes

Work is to commence on a neighbourhood of 344 zero carbon homes and commercial premises in Peterborough’s centre as part of English Partnerships’ innovative Carbon Challenge. The preferred developer for the 7 ha Phase 1 site has been named as pPod, a consortium set up between Morris Homes, Gentoo Homes and the architects Browne Smith Baker.

All homes are expected be zero carbon, meeting Level 6 of the Government’s Code for Sustainable Homes, years ahead of the 2016 target. The commercial units will be up to the BREEAM Excellent standard, this is one of the highest levels of energy efficiency and environmental performance.

The development will have a ‘green-spine’ of orchards and allotments plus canopy walkways together with 650 sq m of retail floor space and 614 sq m of community space. Food production will be encouraged by the inclusion of an edible garden concept and a community cafÈ that will sell locally produced goods.

English Partnerships, director of policy, Steve Carr, explains: “In the current economic downturn people are asking harder questions about the quality and value of new homes. The Peterborough pPod homes not only respond to climate change, they will also be more spacious and have lower energy bills

” This isn’t just about eco-living – it is about making new housing schemes a much better deal for owners and tenants by creating comfortable and cost-efficient homes for a range of incomes.”

The dwellings will comply with English Partnerships Quality Standards which include minimum sizes for flats and homes. It is proposed that a biomass combined heat and power (CHP) plant will provide the neigbourhood’s energy and it will benefit from low water usage through the incorporation of rain water harvesting and grey water recycling.

pPod’s proposal includes creative use of sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) to give character to new public spaces, including wetland swales and more formal water courses.

A planning application is to be made in early 2009 and pPod expects to start on site later in the year.

Richard Ellis, chair East of England Development Agency (EEDA),says: “It will be an exemplar project which will draw on and expand the expertise of the region’s environmental technology businesses, creating jobs and raising skills, and helping them maintain their global competitiveness in a sector that is estimated to be worth billions in a just a few years time”.

One of the consortium members, Gentoo, is an award winning north-east based people and property business, with a vision of improving the art of living beyond our imagination. It aims to generate wealth by “improving the lives of its customers and re-investing it through passionate people to create a climate for personal and collective opportunity.”

More information: www.englishpartnerships.co.uk