Articles

Plans have been passed for Zero Carbon housing in Chapmanslade; comprising 43 new sustainable open market homes, as well as new woodland planting, a wildflower meadow, bird and bat boxes, log piles and ‘hedgehog highways’ - creating new wildlife habitats and improving local biodiversity.

Gloucestershire-based developer, Newland Homes, has secured planning consent for its latest development in the Wiltshire village, nearby to Frome, with work due to commence on site later this year.  This will be the second offering of Zero Carbon homes for the company, who are seeking to create a benchmark for future homes and address the impacts of global climate change.

The 4.5 acre brownfield site originally formed part of Barters Farm commercial plant nursery just off the High Street in Chapmanslade.  43 new homes, including bungalows, will now be constructed using the latest technology to help homeowners shrink their carbon footprint.  

To achieve Zero Carbon homes, air source heat pumps will heat homes in lieu of gas boilers and homes will benefit from a significant array of high-performance solar panels to generate electricity.  Properties have been orientated to maximise solar gain and constructed with high levels of insulation to deliver significant energy savings.

This delivers homes which are well above current standards required for new build homes.

Jeremy Drew, Developments Director at Newland Homes, comments: “Newland Homes is investing in the future with our first Zero Carbon homes.  It is not a planning requirement, but it is the right thing to do, and is increasingly sought by our customers.  This is a major milestone and sets the scene for all of Newland Homes’ coming developments.”

Jeremy continues: “We’re upgrading the ambitions for our properties, so they are more sustainable and economic to run, without compromising on their style, and are future-proofed for both the homeowner and the environment.”

Three and four bedroom houses, as well as two and three bedroom bungalows, will be built.  The design of the homes reflects the local character of the historic village of Chapmanslade, using materials which reflect the local area and details such as the locally-distinctive brick surrounds to the windows and decorative quoins.

A new play area will be set within a large area of public open space and a number of features across the site have been introduced to encourage wildlife and biodiversity, with new woodland planting and a wildflower meadow to create new habitats for a wide range of species.  Eight bird boxes will be provided for birds such as blue tits and sparrows, along with three bat boxes.  Two log piles will provide a day time shelter for amphibians. 

Hedgehog highways are small holes in the base of fences, creating ‘highways’ that enable hedgehogs to roam freely.   Impenetrable fences interrupt the movement of hedgehogs, which impacts on the health of these most popular and iconic of Britain’s nocturnal mammals, whose numbers have been in a troubling decline.

Newland Homes has a long association with this area.  The company has been the recipient of the Trowbridge Town Enhancement Award for an unprecedented three times for its work in transforming and enhancing the local community, receiving the award for the first time in 2005 for the redevelopment of the former Ushers brewery site and bottling plant; and again in 2011 and 2014.  The company is also responsible for The Old Nurseries on Oakfield Road in Frome (formally the police station).

As part of the development, Newland Homes will make a financial donation to the local community through a process known as S106 contributions, including a contribution to the upgrade of Chapmanslade recreation ground, and improvement works to the footpaths north of the development for the benefit of both existing and new residents. Newland Homes has a policy of using contractors local to its developments, which reduces pollution from travelling and further bolsters the local economy and community.

This year marks the thirtieth year in operation for Newland Homes and the independent company has been responsible for more than 200 developments across the South West, and more than 3,300 homes. 

For further information about Newland Homes, please click here