Zero-carbon housing development in Castleford celebrates sustainability win

Published by Diana Maccarthy for Keepmoat in Housing and also in Communities, Local Government

A flagship zero-carbon housing development in Castleford has picked up a prestigious construction award for sustainability.

Park Dale was built in Airedale by community regeneration specialist Keepmoat on behalf of Wakefield and District Housing (WDH), in partnership with property design and management consultants NPS.

The £12 million, 91-home site is the largest zero-carbon housing development in the UK, and took home the Sustainability Award at the Chartered Institute of Building’s prestigious Committed to Construction in West Yorkshire Awards.

The awards celebrate high quality work by West Yorkshire’s construction industry supply chain, including developers, designers and builders, and recognise what can be achieved through strong partnerships, a clear vision and high quality delivery.

Park Dale includes 71 homes for social rent and 20 for intermediate rent, with a mix of two, three and four bedroom homes. All the properties achieved Code for Sustainable Homes Level 6.

The development boasts a range of cutting edge eco-technologies, including:

• In-roof photovoltaic panels
• Mechanical ventilation heat recovery systems
• Superior levels of internal air tightness
• Triple glazed windows
• Grey water recycling
• Soakaway drainage

All the homes draw heat from a district biomass heating system powered by renewable pellets produced in Yorkshire from recycled pallets.

Park Dale tenants can also learn how to make energy savings and understand the eco features in their homes at the development’s dedicated Learning Centre, where they can also take energy management qualifications.

Heating demand is expected to be one fifth of an average home. Total energy bills are expected to be 40% less than an average home and 25% less than a modern new build home. Other benefits will include water bill savings from lower water use fittings and grey water recycling, and the potential to save more on bills by using appliances during the day when the photovoltaic panels will power for free.

Energy use in all the properties will be monitored through SMART meters, which will help assess where WDH’s tenants can make even more savings in the future.

Park Dale took 12 months to plan and to co-ordinate the Code for Sustainable Homes submission. Work started on-site in March 2010 and the scheme, which had £5.77 million of part-funding from the Homes and Communities Agency, was officially opened in November 2011.

The new homes have proved extremely popular with more than 3,754 expressions of interest received by WDH, which equates to more than 40 expressions per property.

Neil Baxter, Managing Director of Keepmoat delivery company Bramall Construction, said: “Park Dale is a groundbreaking zero carbon construction project that will bring real benefits for residents. It has helped change the Code for Sustainable Homes landscape in the UK and is a most worthy winner of the Committed to Construction in West Yorkshire Sustainability Award.”

Richard Parkin, WDH Director for Regeneration, said: “We take our environmental responsibilities very seriously and are committed to becoming Carbon Neutral by 2016. Park Dale is a prime example of how we are trying to reduce our carbon footprint at the same time as helping tenants save on their energy bills.

“We are extremely proud that all our efforts have been recognised for this award.”

Richard Hodgson, Managing Director at NPS’ Castleford office, said: “Park Dale is evidence that our design team are at the cutting edge of sustainable design. We are proud to have been part of this award winning scheme which will continue to benefit its residents for years to come.”