One Brighton, New England Quarter in Brighton, on England’s south coast, has thrown open its show apartment door. The UK’s most sustainable development under construction – it’s true zero carbon, has an EcoHomes ‘Excellent’ rating, and is one of only two developments in the UK to have achieved five green ticks on this site – it is the flagship project of a partnership between developer BioRegional Quintain and housebuilder Crest Nicholson. Prices start from £132,000 for a studio apartment.
One Brighton is being developed under the ten One Planet Living® principles of sustainability which include zero carbon. The status is being achieved through high thermal insulation values and highly efficient glazing, which will reduce energy consumption and loss, as well as on- and offsite energy production from 100 per cent renewable sources. Onsite a biomass boiler will provide 50 per cent of requirements; photovoltaic (PV) panels will supplement. The remaining requirements will be from offsite renewables including wind power.
Pooran Desai OBE, BioRegional Qunitain’s sustainability director, said: “One Brighton is the biggest breakthrough in sustainable housing today. It is about creating a community – not just apartments – that shows how people can live today and how we should be building in the 21st century. Importantly, One Brighton is attractive to look at and prices are no more than a conventional property. It is the first community worldwide to be built under the One Planet Living principles and it’s a proud moment [to see the show apartment opening].”
BioRegional Quintain and Crest Nicholson have taken nearly five years to bring the project to fruition. Planning issues in the New England Quarter regeneration area have been surmounted – Brighton & Hove City Council has been supportive – and technological innovations have been worked through. Key eco initiatives being implemented are sky gardens, green walls, sedum roofs and allotments, each of which ‘cool’ the building, ‘break up’ the concrete and timber façade (which is shaped like a ship’s prow) and create oases of calm. But much of the building’s green credentials are not immediately apparent.
The concrete frame is constructed from 60 per cent recycled aggregate, the clay block used, imported from Germany, offers high levels of insulation while being ‘breathable’ to prevent moisture (and potential damp) issues. All timber used for construction and for cladding is from FSC sources. A mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery provides fresh air. An onsite composter processes 90 per cent of organic waste. Aerated taps and showerheads reduce water consumption; rainwater will be harvested from rooftops and used for irrigation.
Steve Jones, managing director of Crest Nicholson (South East), said: “Technology is vitally important to drive environmental sustainability. People are resistant to give up their foreign holidays and luxury goods. But if we can provide a product that not only looks like a conventional property but which has green technology built in, then people will buy it. True sustainability is about providing a regular product that the public will want to purchase. That’s been our aim all along at One Brighton.”
The first homes will be ready for occupation in April next year. Comprising two buildings of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments half are eligible for key worker and shared ownership. MOAT Housing Association is the chosen partner to manage the schemes. One Brighton is designated car-free, and owners will be encouraged to join the onsite car club. Brighton trains station is a two-minute walk away, and is visible from the apartment block.
One Brighton is at the vanguard but others are set to follow as part of the partnership between Crest Nicholson and BioRegional Quintain, whilst adhering to the One Planet Living principles. One Gallions in the Thames Gateway, and another development in Rochester, Kent, are currently in planning. In the north of England, BioRegional Quintain is developing 750 of 5,000 homes to be built at RiversideOne at Middlehaven, which is located in a former dockyard in Middlesbrough, Teeside.
