Entec Helps English Partnerships Select Winner of First Carbon Challenge Site

Entec has successfully supported English Partnerships (EP), the national regeneration agency, in determining the winning developer for the first Carbon Challenge site at Hanham Hall in Bristol. The proposed zero carbon development will deliver high standards of design quality and wider social and economic sustainability, while increasing the environmental performance of the new community.

Entec was appointed as lead technical advisor to the EP Carbon Challenge team to help set the standards to be achieved for the Carbon Challenge, and to contribute to the delivery of the initiative in collaboration with local EP offices, Regional Development Agencies, councils and the developers.

Commenting on the project and Entec’s contribution, Jim Kersey, director at Entec said: “We advised on a number of areas concerning social, environmental and economic sustainability. The process of the brief’s development included workshops with other advisory bodies and structured feedback/communication loops that now form an applicable basis for a number of new communities across the UK.”

Working in partnership with Communities and Local Government, EP and other advisory bodies, Entec input technical expertise to the Carbon Challenge generic brief, gave advice  to the Hanham Hall delivery team on producing their site-specific documents, assisted in the procurement process and in the evaluation of the tender submissions.

Vera Seibold, who leads Entec’s Sustainable Design Group said: “Hanham Hall being the first Carbon Challenge project has provided an excellent opportunity to perfect the Carbon Challenge process that now forms a robust basis for all forthcoming Carbon Challenge sites across the UK and will contribute to a successful progression of future projects.”

The winning proposal by Barratt Developments PLC delivers a sustainable design strategy which is in clear agreement with what the Carbon Challenge is about, not only to achieve level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, but also to incorporate sustainable best practice. Steve Carr, English Partnerships’ Director of Policy and Economics, said, “The winning bid isn’t just environmentally sound –
it brings people into the equation to create a truly sustainable community.

“We are meeting a dual goal – tackling climate change whilst improving housing quality. I am delighted that so many developers rose to the challenge. The winning bid by Barratt tipped the balance because they thought about eco-living not just eco-buildings.”

Mark Clare, Chief Executive, Barratt Developments PLC said, “Barratt fully supports the zero carbon objective and we want to make as big a contribution as we can as quickly as we can. We are delighted to be asked to deliver this ground-breaking project, which will be the first large-scale zero carbon community in the country. It will enable a family occupying one of these homes to reduce their entire carbon footprint by 60 per cent. ”

For further information, please contact Entec’s project manager Vera Seibold at vera.seibold@entecuk.co.uk

Notes

1. English Partnerships is the government’s national regeneration agency delivering high quality, sustainable growth in England, by developing a portfolio of strategic projects and acting as the government’s advisor on brownfield land. It also ensures that surplus public sector assets are used to support wider government objectives. English Partnerships helps create communities where people can afford to live and want to live. Information on projects and programmes can be found at www.englishpartnerships.co.uk
2. English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation are working with the Department for Communities and Local Government to establish the proposed Homes and Communities Agency.

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