Andreea Dulgheru    | 15:26 Thursday 23rd June 2022 |    1

The Arbour project, which comprises ten mews properties designed by GS8 and architect Michael Lynas, is the first one to employ the developer’s regenerative building framework in full, which is primarily focused on three pillars: being zero waste, carbon negative and net energy positive.

Throughout the construction process, GS8 employed circular economy principles, delivering the project with zero waste — as part of this, the firm deconstructed eight buildings and reused the bricks and blocks for the new scheme’s foundation, the existing steel purlins for part of the roof, and the soil for lighting, furniture and making 35,000 earth bricks, which were used within the party walls.

In addition, all of GS8’s operatives had to sign up to a zero-waste charter, whereby no single-use plastics were allowed on site throughout the construction.

In terms of embodied carbon, the homes have been built to store more carbon through the natural materials used than the carbon used to construct the buildings from the remaining man-made materials.

According to GS8, the use of bio-based building materials, which absorb carbon from the atmosphere during the growth cycle, results in the sequestration of approximately 550kgCO2/m2 of carbon.

As the natural building products were sustainably sourced — each tree harvested for timber products was replaced with a new tree — the homes could be considered to achieve net zero (or negative) embodied carbon without the need to rely on distant tree planting or carbon offsetting programmes.

The Arbour was designed to reduce the energy demand of each home: all properties have an EPC rating of A, and are fitted with photovoltaic rooftops, providing 50 kWh/m2/year, making the buildings operationally carbon negative over the course of a year.   Differing definitions of net zero could be stalling planet-positive construction with greenwashing, claims developer   St Modwen Homes completes carbon-negative homes in Sussex   Hayfield reveals plans for £20m zero-carbon residential scheme in Oxfordshire Poll As a developer, are you looking to enter into fixed-price contracts with your contractors, in light of rising building material costs?    Yes    No Vote Results

Residents living in the new properties are expected to have no energy bills — however, should some energy be required from the grid during winter, a cost-efficient renewable tariff will be arranged to charge each homes’ battery in off-peak hour, with the cost expected to be offset by surplus generated from on-site renewables in spring and summer.

The Arbour scheme also comprises a community garden that includes foraging, vegetable patches, vertical farming and an outdoor kitchen, as well as an on-site reuse centre to provide a space for residents to swap, share and store infrequently used items.

GS8 worked closely together with Rockett St George’s founders Jane Rockett and Lucy St George, who acted as consultants on the design and finish on the interior throughout the development, helping to source materials that fit with the carbon negative and zero waste credentials of the scheme.

The Arbour’s showhome was designed by Rockett St George, and features a range of sustainable furniture, designed and built in the UK using FSC standard wood and locally-sourced pallet wood from waste streams.

Prices for the homes start from £800,000.

“Being passionate about making changes towards a greener way of life, we were thrilled to be part of this ground-breaking build,” said Jane and Lucy.

“From concept to completion, every aspect of the build has been carefully thought through with sustainability and circular economy principles at the forefront. 

“Being on site was really different to any build we have known before; every member of the team was passionate about the processes they were using to create these incredible houses.

“There is a team spirit and a feeling of being part of something really special - we are very proud to be part of that.”

Kristen Henson, director at KLH Sustainability, commented: “I’ve been working in sustainability for almost 20 years on a wide range of projects, and I can honestly say I have never seen anything like this. 

“The ambition set out at early design has followed through on site with an attention to detail and a commitment that is rare to find.

“This is exactly what we need to shake up the status-quo in the industry.”

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