News for June 2003

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Mini-HHP

Over the last few months’ work has started on a new earth-sheltered development in Hockerton, Nottinghamshire.  The two homes will be developed in a 1-acre field adjacent to the Hockerton Housing Project (HHP) site. Although planning was not straightforward permission has been achieved as a result of the clear environmental design and strong association with HHP. This in fact extends to a clear intellectual link with HHP in the planning agreement with the council (Newark & Sherwood District Council), a Section 106. This again represents the forward thinking nature of Newark & Sherwood District Council, who are clearly near the forefront of facilitating sustainable development in the UK.

The design has been led HHP project member/builder, Nick Martin, with significant input from the commissioning parties. It is essentially being run as a self-build scheme with Nick Martin overseeing the construction.

The earth-sheltered homes will be highly energy-efficient with super-insulation, high specification glazing and south facing conservatories designed to collect heat from solar radiation in colder months. The high thermal mass of the buildings combined with insulation will mean that the homes will not require any dedicated form of central heating, thereby meeting one of the most innovative environmental standards, zero-heating. All the heating needs of the homes will be met by solar gain and other incidental gains from living in the building. The homes will also collect there own water using a locally developed rainwater collection system (FreeRain), and waste water will be treated on site via a reed bed system.

It is expected that there will be very close links between this new development and HHP, not least because one of the occupants is an ex- HHP member. These links may include reciprocal assistance with land management, food-growing activities and maintenance of water and energy systems.

Nick Martin is also currently involved in a single dwelling eco-build in North West Nottinghamshire. Again Nick Martin has developed the design using many of the principles used in building the homes at the Hockerton Housing Project, but without the earth sheltering. The owner originally contacted HHP to use its consultancy services. Subsequently Nick Martin’s building business, NSM Builders, has taken on the construction itself. The house is due to be complete later this year.

These developments are a small indication of the great demand we are aware of for homes that are substantially more energy-efficient and sustainable. This is both for the obvious environmental reasons, but also the economics of a home that will maintain very low running costs and designed for a significantly greater longevity.

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