New eco flats promise to reduce carbon emissions

One of the country’s leading community regeneration specialists, Bramall Construction, is helping future residents reduce their carbon footprints by building a block of flats using environmentally-friendly materials.

Carbon reducing technology is being installed in eight new build flats being constructed at Cumberland Street in Macclesfield as part of an £850,000 contract for Cheshire Peaks & Plains Housing Trust.

Salford-based Bramall Construction, which forms part of the Keepmoat group and covers the North West, Cumbria and Wales, aims to reduce carbon emissions by up to 44% per property and help residents reduce their annual household bills when they move into the properties in October this year.

The design includes the installation of ventilation systems designed to cut down on traffic noise, the inclusion of photovoltaic panels to generate electricity, improved insulation in the walls, floors and roof, energy efficient boilers and a timber framed structure with brick cladding sympathetic to the local area.

Tenants will also benefit from water saving features in kitchens and bathrooms.

The new flats will achieve Level 4 under the Code for Sustainable Homes.

Bramall’s Design Manager Arthur Hallworth said: “The site used to be one of the offices of Cheshire Peaks & Plains and part of the works was the demolition of their old buildings on the site.

“We have embraced carbon reducing eco technologies as part of this project and have used more modern versions of Victorian features to allow the development to fit in with its surroundings in Macclesfield.

“It is an exciting project as we believe we are the first in the Keepmoat group to use this technology in flats rather than just houses and hope to utilise the experience we have gained to benefit other clients in future.”

Following the recent success in Cumberland Street, Cheshire Peaks &Plains has asked Bramall Construction to build two new blocks of flats in Honford Court in Handforth, Wilmslow.

The £3.3 million contract will also be delivered to Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes and will include carbon reducing technologies including air source heat pumps.

Bramall’s Managing Director Dave Prescott said: “Our work with Cheshire Peaks & Plains proves that we both share the common objective of being at the forefront of cutting edge technology that protects the environment.

“Sustainability is at the core of everything we do and we are excited by the prospect of repeating this programme of works with other clients in order to promote the benefits of carbon reducing technology.”

Nigel Bennett, Development Manager at Cheshire Peaks & Plains, added: “This is the first new build project for Cheshire Peaks & Plains Housing Trust and we are really pleased to be working with Bramall on this innovative project to provide energy efficient homes for our customers.

“We have been heavily involved with the design process to ensure that our new homes offer whole house environmentally friendly solutions and we are hoping to link with energy suppliers to include renewable technologies and facilities for monitoring energy consumption over time.”