Presentation Housing Association got planning permission on 24 June. However, it insists the scheme will not fall victim to the £10m budget overrun that beset the original project in Sutton, south London.
Unlike Peabody, which spent £24m on BedZED, Presentation has agreed a partnering contract with a guaranteed maximum cost. It is working with PRP ZEDfactor, a joint venture between BedZED architect Bill Dunster and commercial designer PRP Architects.
Mohni Gujral, chief executive at Presentation, said the contract meant it could be certain of the project’s cost while the principle of partnering would enshrine a close working relationship with PRP ZEDfactor.
The 12 low-energy key-worker flats in Lambeth, south London, will be built using the same modern construction techniques as the BedZED project and use the same materials.
But, unlike BedZED, the Lambeth development will not be a carbon-neutral scheme (one that emits no carbon dioxide into the air), because it will not include some of BedZED’s more complicated and expensive features.
Andy von Bradsky, director of PRP ZEDfactor, said: “ZEDfactor will not have its own combined heat and power plant like BedZED has because the scheme is too small to warrant having one. Neither will it have the photovoltaic cells [which create electricity from solar energy] because their cost is so high. But we have designed the scheme to be future proof – features can be added in at a later date.”
Bill Dunster said the scheme’s energy demands would be minimal and the flats would have a zero-rating heating standard, that would far exceed the requirements needed to gain an “excellent” Eco Homes rating.
“Our big lesson from BedZED is to keep things simple,” he said.
The PRP ZEDfactor scheme is due for completion in March 2005. It is part of a wider regeneration of the St Matthews estate in Lambeth. Ninety-nine homes will be built, including 62 for Presentation.
Source
Housing Today
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