Peterborough's pPod project to create zero-carbon 'community of the future' » Housing » 24dash.com

The development of an innovative, zero-carbon neighbourhood in the centre of Peterborough moved a step closer today as pPod - a consortium consisting of Morris Homes, Gentoo Homes, and Browne Smith Baker architects - was selected as the preferred developer for Phase 1 of the city’s South Bank.

The project will meet the highest level of the government’s Code for Sustainable Homes, as part of English Partnerships’ ground-breaking Carbon Challenge. 

English Partnerships, the national regeneration agency, together with the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), Peterborough City Council and Opportunity Peterborough have selected pPod for the 7ha site in the centre of the city.

Homes will be zero carbon, meeting Level 6 of the Government’s Code for Sustainable Homes, years ahead of the 2016 target for when all homes will have to be built to this standard.

All commercial units will be built to BREEAM Excellent standard – one of the highest levels of energy efficiency and environmental performance. 

The new mixed-use urban extension will comprise 344 new homes, 35 per cent of which will be affordable, plus open spaces and a commercial element.

All homes will be built to English Partnerships Quality Standards which include minimum sizes for flats and homes. Energy for the community will be provided by a biomass combined heat and power (CHP) plant.

The energy centre, the community centres and open spaces will be managed by a Community Interest Company. Homes will benefit from low water usage through the incorporation of rain water harvesting and grey water recycling.

Steve Carr, Director of Policy at English Partnerships, who is leading the Carbon Challenge initiative for the Government, said: “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 pPod proposal includes creative use of sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) to give character to new public spaces. This includes wetland swales and more formal water courses.

There will be a ‘green-spine’ with orchards and allotments, and canopy walkways along 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 café that will sell locally produced goods.

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

Allan Thompson, Director of Operations for Gentoo Homes, said: “To be appointed as preferred developer for the Peterborough Carbon Challenge site is fantastic news, Gentoo Homes aims to create sustainable communities in every sense and has always advocated a “nothing is impossible” approach in terms of housing design and space standards. We are extremely eager to transform our vision for the South Bank into reality.

With this development we have the opportunity to re-imagine the future, using the lessons learnt from the delivery of zero carbon homes to inform and drive our own forward development programme – thus taking this exciting initiative beyond Peterborough and the other Carbon Challenge sites.”

Martin Edmunds, Group Strategic Land Director at Morris Homes, added: “This scheme provides a very exciting opportunity to bring new types of housing to a major development, providing a model that can be transferred to future sites.

"This is in-keeping with Morris’ long-standing commitment to sustainable development which saw Morris recently named as the UK’s first Green Housebuilder of the Year.”

Councillor John Peach, Leader of Peterborough City Council, said:  “The exciting Carbon Challenge scheme will enhance Peterborough’s reputation as a UK leader in high quality sustainable development and it will stimulate progress in our vision for the much larger South Bank area.

"Council officers are identifying new and sustainable ways of providing sustainable, essential services for residents when it is built.”

Richard Ellis, chair EEDA, commented: “EEDA is delighted that this exciting project is moving into the next stage of development Peterborough’s Carbon City Challenge. It will create homes and business premises that are energy efficient and sustainable, creating a double benefit of saving the residents money and reducing the region’s carbon emissions.

"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." 

Phil Harker, Opportunity Peterborough director of technical operations and sustainability, added: “This development will transform this key city centre location, providing a sustainable exemplar for future development of the South Bank and the whole of the city.”