Member Article

North East housing provider's recognition for first carbon negative housing development

County Durham-based housing provider, Four Housing, is celebrating success after its flagship carbon negative development – built by Galliford Try - won a national construction award.

Sinclair Meadows, the UK’s first carbon negative social housing development won the ‘Innovation’ category at the Constructing Excellence Awards, during a ceremony held at The Tower, London.

The scheme, located in South Shields in the North East of England, meets the local community’s need for 100 per cent affordable housing while leading the way in creating truly sustainable homes.

It comprises 21 affordable homes including nine three-bedroom houses and 12 two-bedroom apartments.

Commenting on the award win, Dawn Keightley, group director of operations at not-for-profit Four Housing, said: “Sinclair Meadows began as one person’s idea and then became the aspiration of an organisation. Through extensive research and partnership working, a concept was developed that could physically be delivered without impacting the usability of the homes.

“At the outset the intention was to design and construct an exemplary sustainable and affordable housing community that was carbon negative in energy use. Through the use of innovative design principles and renewable energy technologies, the project realised its aim to reduce carbon emissions.”

Stephen McCoy, managing director with Galliford Try Partnerships North, added: “Sinclair Meadows provides truly sustainable homes in a safe environment and exemplifies modern methods of construction, making a major contribution to national initiatives on carbon reduction and climate change.

“Our specialist design team was involved from the outset, ensuring the homes are thermally efficient and positioned to optimise solar energy, with shading to avoid overheating. They are constructed from renewable natural materials which can be recycled. It is fantastic to see this innovative approach recognised at another national award.”

Sinclair Meadows has already won the Most Innovative Renewable Technology category at the 2013 Housing Innovation Awards and being short listed in the Construction category of the 2013 Sustain Magazine Awards.

The development is home to one of the largest collections of solar panels on domestic dwellings in the UK. The roofs of the 21 homes are decked with 85 kW peak photovoltaic array solar panels, which reduce demand on traditional energy resources and export any excess energy back to the grid.

Sinclair Meadows received £1.7 million in funding from the Homes and Communities Agency and was developed in collaboration with strategic partners which also included South Tyneside Council, Groundwork South Tyneside and Newcastle.

The initiative contributes to South Tyneside Council’s pledge to cut carbon emissions by 20 per cent by 2020 and will guide future social housing developments due to the energy savings that can be achieved and the high level of tenant satisfaction.

Dawn Keightley continued: “Our aspiration is that the community evolves as customers living at Sinclair Meadows continue to understand how their actions impact their carbon footprint, and as a result adopt an eco-friendly lifestyle. Through the different use of materials and technologies used at the scheme, Sinclair Meadows not only makes it easy for customers to reduce their carbon footprint but also results in significant reductions in energy bills.

The development of Sinclair Meadows is a first for Four Housing, the designers, contractor and its sub-contractors. Through partnership working, the North East now has industry professionals that have skills which can be utilised by others looking to build to this standard.

The Constructing Excellence Awards are a celebration of what the construction industry has to offer. Sinclair Meadows first won the regional heat of the awards during a ceremony in Newcastle on Friday May 10.

In winning the award, the development was automatically entered into the national category and went on to beat a further seven regional winners of the ‘Innovation’ category.

Catriona Lingwood, chief executive of Constructing Excellence in the North East, said: “Sinclair Meadows was chosen as the winner of the Innovation award because of its truly innovative design principles. The judges were very impressed with the culture change the residence had achieved and the impressive data being produced which is being tracked and analysed by a local university. It was great to see a North East project honoured on a national scale and rightly so, the project has achieved some phenomenal things!”

Dawn Keightley concluded: “At Four Housing we want to be the provider of choice both for our customers and partners. By working with other industry professionals, we are able to create homes that improve the lives of our customers.

“This award recognises the vision and commitment of Four Housing, our staff and partners in delivering this ambitious and complex project. This could not have been achieved without the support and dedication of all parties involved who continue to work hard to contribute to Sinclair Meadows’ success.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .