Sustainable, energy efficient and well designed – by Redrow

Tue, Feb 20th 2007, 11:00

Developer Redrow, which has regional housing companies based in Bristol and Exeter, is celebrating some major achievements in the areas of sustainable communities, energy efficiency and good urban design.

A Plymouth based project, ‘Regenerating Devonport’ - in which Redrow’s transformation of the former MoD South Yard Enclave plays the major part – has just been recognised by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), winning the Sustainable Communities Award at a national awards ceremony that celebrated the best in planning achievement.

Meanwhile, Redrow’s award-winning and innovative first time buyer product range, Debut, is among the exhibits at a major exhibition in Bristol that is showcasing the best examples of sustainable housing. The ‘Greenprint: Design for Sustainable Living’ exhibition at the Architecture Centre in Narrow Quay, Bristol, explores a range of low-impact housing solutions from the South West and beyond.

Further afield, a Redrow development in Rowhedge, Essex, was one of the first 11 developments recognised in a new joint initiative by the Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment and the HBF, for adopting the Foundation’s design principles, helping to improve quality of life for residents and for being energy-efficient. Developments were also judged on the inclusion of local amenities, alternatives to car dependency, timeless designs and neighbourhoods with context and character.

 

And Redrow’s Jupiter development – a brownfield regeneration project in Birmingham city centre – scored the second highest mark (80%) in the latest CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) housing audit. It was one of only two from 100 audited developments by different developers in the East Midlands, West Midlands and South West to be assessed as ‘very good’. Schemes were measured on a wide variety of factors, including distinctive character, architectural quality, roads, parking and pedestrianisation, public space, plus inclusion of or access to community facilities.
 
Colin Lewis, Western regional chairman for Redrow, comments: “These examples of independent recognition all help to illustrate the role that Redrow is playing and our commitment to the sustainable communities’ agenda. The design principles displayed in the schemes highlighted are evident in all of our developments, including those across the South West and West Country.”

Redrow’s Bristol and Exeter based housing companies are building an extensive range of new homes in Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, including contemporary apartments, elegant townhouses and traditional family housing. The company is also involved in the sensitive refurbishment of Grade II listed period properties at Collingwood Crescent in Gloucester and Knightstone Island, Weston-super-mare. 

And the Bristol operation has recently appealed the decision of South Gloucestershire Council to refuse planning permission for its affordable, first time buyer Debut properties on a site at Filton, near Bristol.

It is Redrow’s first Debut development, in Rugby, Warwickshire, that features prominently in Bristol’s Greenprint expo, until March 25th.  This innovative housing scheme won an inaugural BREAAM Award last year for the eco-friendly nature of its homes.

 

Organisers of the Bristol exhibition say it demonstrates “how we should build for the future of the planet, what we can learn from recent sustainable developments and what it is really like to live in an eco-friendly house.”

They add: “The exhibition presents a fascinating snapshot of the state of sustainable housing today. As well as project descriptions, images and models the exhibition features interviews with people who live in the developments and those who were involved in planning and building them – thus presenting a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at sustainability in action.”

Meanwhile, the RTPI award for Devonport reflects all the planning that has gone in to creating the future of the area, starting with the Devonport Development Framework, which was formed with large scale community consultation, and followed by the creation of the detailed Masterplan which concentrates on Redrow’s redevelopment of the South Yard Enclave.
 
‘Regenerating Devonport’ was submitted for the award by urban design practice, Matrix Partnership, who prepared both the Framework for Devonport Regeneration Community Partnership and the Masterplan for English Partnerships.

The Sustainable Communities Award recognises the efforts of many people, including English Partnerships, the Housing Corporation, Matrix Partnership, DRC Partnership and Plymouth City Council, to bring the South Yard scheme to fruition – as well as preferred developer Redrow Homes (West Country), who has now started the demolition and construction process to turn those plans into reality. Redrow is creating a mixed-use neighbourhood of circa 450 new homes, offices, shops and other community facilities. An information centre opens on site on March 2nd to demonstrate exactly what is proposed.

 

For further details of Redrow’s developments visit www.redrow.co.uk  or download its corporate social responsibility e-brochure at www.redrowcsr.co.uk. For specific information about the Vision @ Devonport development visit www.vision.redrow.co.uk.  Or register for details of local housing developments by calling 0845 676 0500.