This case study outlines how Sheffield City Council project-managed their award-winning energy efficent development, Norfolk Park green homes.
Summary
The Green Homes development is Sheffield's first of its kind and compromises of 47 properties. It was built in partnership with Sheffield City Council, Transform South Yorkshire (TSY) and the Environment Trust (ET).
Following the demolition of a number of unpopular tower blocks in the 1990's, Norfolk Park has seen radical improvement in housing which has been led by the council and its partners working together to develop and deliver the Norfolk Park Masterplan.
As part of the Norfolk Park Masterplan this site was identified by the council and the ET as the most suitable one for the Green Homes development. It is well connected to the city centre and the topography and location allows building to front onto the roads and public spaces and to gain stunning views across the city and the surrounding countryside.
Making it happen
In order to select an architect, a competition took place in May 2004. This was open for any architect to enter and the designs were assessed on the following criteria:
- Green Performance: The degree to which the scheme minimises its environmental footprint and meeting the Green Homes specification for the Trust.
- Affordability: How well the scheme meets the draft budget and represents good value for money.
- Saleability: The attractiveness of the scheme to potential purchasers.
- Liveability: An assessment of how well the scheme works to create a new community on the site.
- Beauty: How well the scheme makes a good contribution to the local area in design terms.
The designs were displayed locally over two days for the general public to look at. Residents from the surrounding areas were invited to comment on the different designs.
The judging panel was led by architects and planners from around the country, the Chair of the Norfolk Park Tenants and Residents Association and officers from the Environment Trust. The panel selected Matthew Lloyd Architects as the preferred partners.
The properties include the following features:
- generous space standards, 10 per cent larger than standard homes
- energy efficient which will lead to cost savings on utilities
- properties orientated to maximise the use of natural sunlight
- high standards of air-tightness
- excellent sound insulation
- use of sustainable materials
- solar panels to heat water and provide communal lighting in the apartment blocks
- low-flow taps
- under floor heating
- mechanical extraction system that enhances thermal efficiency
- electric car pool
- SUDS scheme
- built to allow adaptation and extension.
The scheme is made up 14 one-bed apartments, 18 two-bed apartments and 15-three bedroom houses; a total of 47 properties.
Planning permission was granted on the 31 October 2005. Before work on site could begin ground stabilisation work had to take place. A grant from TSY was given to carry this out. Work on site began in spring 2007. Wildgoose Construction Ltd, a local company was selected as the main contractor.
Interest in the properties from prospective purchasers was high and SCC had nomination rights to the units. All applicants applied for properties and a nominations process was carried out by SCC in 2007.
Next steps
Due to the changes in the financial market many of the people nominated as purchasers for the Green Homes were unable to secure mortgages. SCC began a second round of nominations, this time widening the criteria.
SCC have worked closely with Places for People (PfP), who are the majority landlord in Norfolk Park, to secure the sale of the site to them. This secured the future of the development and assured affordability.
All work on site is now complete and the tenure of the units is as follows:
- Rent:
Apartments 28
Houses 7 - New Build HomeBuy:
Apartments 4
Houses 8
Interest in the properties has remained high and people began moving into the properties from July 2009.
SCC in partnership with PfP will be conducting an evaluation of the scheme. Residents will be visited by officers from SCC, a baseline questionnaire will be completed and the residents will then be re-visited in 12 months so that information on running costs etc can be taken. The evaluation is to find out if the many energy saving aspects of the properties have worked and had a positive impact on utility costs.
Key learning
The evaluation of the project will identify each of the energy saving initiatives and will show how affective these have been for the residents of the properties and how many have translated into financial savings. This information will be used to prove which initiatives are most successful.
Further Information
For further information please contact Catherine Hughes of the Regeneration Team
Tel: 0114 2922307
Email: [email protected]