A green and pleasant home

A couple from Brighton, who transformed a derelict builder’s yard into a home that’s bursting with environmentally-friendly features, have scooped a prestigious award (and a cheque for £5,000) from Norwich and Peterborough Building Society (N&P).

N&P is this year celebrating 10 years of offering “green” mortgages. The Society holds its Eco Self-Build competition every year to raise awareness of how homes can be built in a more responsible way. By 2010 the Government has stipulated that all new homes will have to be “carbon neutral”. And as the nation’s houses are currently responsible for producing 27% of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions each year, it’s vital that housebuilders tackle this issue sooner rather than later.

This year’s winners, Jackie Strube and Alan Stone, worked hard to create a new home which combined a clever design with the best possible environmentally-friendly performance. But not many first-time self-builders would have spotted the potential of the awkward-shaped plot that caught Jackie and Alan’s eye. They had to overcome planning restrictions and then major architectural challenges before their dream could even begin to take shape.

However, they are now the proud owners of a single-storey two bedroom, timber frame home that is insulated with sheep’s wool and boasts a sedum roof, a solar hot water system and grey water recycling among its eco-friendly credentials. These factors, coupled with the extensive use of recycled materials, right down to the shredded car tyres instead of gravel on the driveway, combined to create a great impression on N& P’s judging panel.

Jackie, who is a housing development manager for a housing association, said: “I have a long-standing interest in green building and feel strongly that new buildings should be designed to minimise their impact upon the environment. We wanted to create a special home which combined a good, modern design with the best possible environmental performance.

“The house is better than we could have hoped and, although we nickname it ‘the bunker’ it feels light, warm, spacious and quiet in its hideaway position. I feel we have demonstrated that with a bit of imagination and the right team it is possible to make something special out of a small bit of wasteland and a commitment to green building!”

Competition judge, Nigel Goss (technical director of surveying firm Hockleys Professional), said: “I was impressed with the development of this plot with its difficult shape and size. It is a site that most purchasers would have walked away from, but with some imagination the winners have produced a useable environmentally-friendly property which has very little impact on the surrounding properties.

“Although there is now more awareness of environmental issues surrounding residential property than there was five years ago, and building regulations have now been updated to reflect the requirement for more environmentally-friendly homes, I feel there is still scope for further improvement.

“The introduction of Energy Performance Certificates has increased general awareness of the environmental impact of properties offered for sale, although at the moment I feel this not one of the major factors on which a final decision to purchase is made. However, over time, I hope it will become a more significant factor.”