Debut - Good for the planet as well as first time buyers!

Thu, May 18th 2006, 11:00

Developer Redrow has won a top award for the eco-friendly and energy efficient nature of its affordable Debut product, which has already thrown a much-needed lifeline to first time buyers.

Having previously secured the coveted EcoHomes ‘EXCELLENT’ rating from the BRE (Building Research Establishment), Redrow’s first Debut scheme, at Willans Green, Rugby, has just triumphed in the first annual BREEAM Awards.

It was named as the EcoHomes Winner for being the highest scoring EcoHomes assessed development in the 12 months to March 31st, 2006. It was also the third highest scoring housing scheme since the initiative was launched in 2000.

The EcoHomes initiative is an independent, transparent labelling scheme for housing, which assesses the environmental quality of a development by considering the broad concerns of climate change, use of resources, pollution and impacts on bio-diversity.

An EcoHomes ‘EXCELLENT’ rating requires an overall score of at least 70%. Debut at Willans Green achieved 75%, scoring well across all the categories and exceptionally well in the sections covering transport, pollution, water and land use and ecology.

Some of the environmentally friendly features that have steered Debut to success with both its EcoHomes ‘EXCELLENT’ rating and this latest award are:

- Built on brownfield land previously occupied by a cement works

- Insulation standards in excess of regulation

- Cycle storage provision for over 50% of dwellings

- Measures in place to protect the local water courses by attenuation of the surface water run off from roofs and hard surfaces

- Use of certified sustainable timber

- Use of water efficient WCs, taps and showers

- Provision of water butts to irrigate communal landscape areas

- Large positive improvement in the ecological value of the site by following the recommendations of a qualified ecologist.

The first annual BREEAM awards produced winners in four different categories, all of them rewarded for their outstanding achievements in environmental design and management.

David Crowhurst, director of BREEAM Centre, commented: “Congratulations to our four winners. We are delighted to acknowledge in this way the achievements of the project teams who have worked hard to provide buildings capable of delivering high environmental performance. All the buildings have scored well above the ‘Excellent’ threshold laying down a challenge to future award winners.”

Redrow’s Debut range has won critical acclaim and several top awards for bringing new homes within reach of genuine first time buyers. It was a major factor in Redrow being named ‘Major Housebuilder of the Year’ at the long established Building Awards, as well as being voted ‘Housebuilder of the Year’ by national consumer property magazine, Your New Home.

Since launching at Willans Green, Rugby in May 2005, Redrow has gone on to deliver its Debut product in Chorley (Lancashire), Castle Vale (Birmingham), Hanley (Stoke-on-Trent) and Hawarden (Flintshire). Planning consent has recently been granted in Sittingbourne, Kent, and permission is being sought in Bristol, Selby (North Yorkshire) and at Ebbw Vale and Bridgend, in South Wales.

NHBC’s Energy and Environmental advisors worked with Redrow to ensure the Willans Green development met with the EcoHomes ‘EXCELLENT’ rating. Jason White, sustainability services manager, commented: “The methods and practices used in the Debut homes is a preview of how housing may be developed in the future as the government continues its push for environmentally sustainable and affordable communities.”

The Debut scheme at Buckshaw Village, in Chorley, has already secured the EcoHomes ‘EXCELLENT’ rating and it is hoped that other projects will follow suit.

Much of the cost saving in a Debut home comes from the way in which the properties are built, using Surebuild 3 galvanised lightweight steel frame manufactured in Swadlincote by Framing Solutions – an independent company set up by Redrow and steel giant Corus. This collaboration places Redrow in an exclusive position to deliver a ground breaking product at an affordable price.

Reliance on trades and the overall build time is reduced through the use of offsite-manufactured components such as the steel frame and shower pods.

Communal heating and hot water systems also provide cost efficiencies, while replacing private gardens with carefully planned, shared outdoor space, maintained by Redrow’s own management company, means Debut properties take up less land than conventional new homes – all resulting in a lower priced home.

For customers taking advantage of Redrow’s ‘Easi-buy’ option, Debut homes have so far been purchased for an initial outlay ranging from just £49,995 for a one-bedroom property to £109,995 for a two-storey, two-bedroom home with additional workspace. Via Easi-buy, customers are able to defer payment of 10% of the purchase price on a fixed sum basis for up to 10 years – bringing the total cost to between £54,995 and £119,995 respectively.

Everything is geared to making home ownership accessible, affordable and easy to manage. The 10% deferred payment is an interest-free fixed sum for up to 10 years and the customer has total flexibility how they pay it back – via occasional lump sums, monthly repayments or in whole at any time. A single monthly service charge covers all external maintenance, as well as water, gas and electricity use and buildings insurance. A legal framework is in place to prevent buy-to-let investors from snapping up the homes.

For information on current and future Debut developments visit: www.debutbyredrow.co.uk