| 09 December 2008 |
| PETERBOROUGH DEVELOPMENT TO HELP BUILDING INDUSTRY OVERCOME ECONOMIC DOWNTURN |
The use of new innovations within one of the city’s most talked about developments is set to transform the building industry while helping grow Peterborough’s economy during the recession.
English Partnerships’ Carbon Challenge will provide a global showcase for new technologies, and promote the city’s environmental goods and services cluster, while demonstrating the skills needed within the construction industry for their application.
The 344 homes sited on the South Bank will be the largest zero carbon development in the country, and the second Carbon Challenge scheme, inspired by the Government to advance the use of sustainable building methods within mainstream construction.
Director of technical operations and sustainability for Opportunity Peterborough, Philip Harker comments: “The economic slowdown has hit the development industry hard but actually may give developers the opportunity to develop more effective and cost efficient methods of construction to develop their companies and identify niches. In this, the South Bank Phase One development holds the potential to change and advance the future of modern building.
“There are only a handful of zero carbon homes in the country and much of the technology used within them is so new it has so far proved too expensive and needs specialist installation.
“The Carbon Challenge will demonstrate the viability of using environmental technologies, creating local economies of scale through its size and providing greater efficiencies through the supply chain and promoting training and retention of new skills within the building industry.”
Peterborough’s economy will also benefit from the development. The South Bank Phase One – Carbon Challenge will include combined heat and power energy source, rainwater harvesting and grey water recycling. Developer pPod is talking to members of the city’s environmental goods and services cluster to take advantage of the unique innovation and skills that the city boasts. There is also the potential for other suppliers and fabricators of modern methods of construction to be located in the city.
“Links between the city’s environmental cluster and pPod are being created as the site moves forward to delivery and we are looking forward to announcing how local companies and individuals have benefitted from the development,” adds Mr Harker.
“Peterborough’s hosting of such a site holds numerous economic advantages for the city, directly through the showcasing of local innovation and the development of local skills, and indirectly by helping create the UK’s Environment Capital.”
Developer pPod, a consortium of Morris Homes and Gentoo, was chosen to bring forward the site in summer 2008 following competitive tender. It is envisaged that a planning application will be submitted in the spring of 2009, following a public consultation.
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