Lamborough Hill is a development of four environmentally considerate homes designed using cutting edge sustainable technologies, including ground source heat pumps, solid construction (recycled PFA blocks) with solid concrete ground and first floors (recycled PFA blocks), enhanced insulation, bespoke Scandinavian fenestration, underfloor heating to ground and first floors and low energy lighting throughout.

• zero-carbon

Ground source heat pumps and enhanced insulation renders the average carbon emission at an expected 1.25t/year (costing around £362-£414 per year), which is approximately 25% of the CO2 emissions from an average household in the UK.

• zero-waste

Recycling bins will be placed in each kitchen, and the local authority collects the waste recycling weekly. Composting bins will be supplied for organic waste.

• sustainable water

All the taps are aerated, the wc’s have dual flush mechanisms and rainwater will be harvested into water butts and used for irrigation.

• local and sustainable building materials

All timber is from sustainable forests and a chain of custody is available for inspection. Construction material is from recycled PFA blocks. The developer is a second generation family-owned and run business, who lives and has an office locally. Its directly employed craftsmen live locally and the developer endeavours to source local subcontractors.

• sustainable transport

The site is four miles south west of Oxford and has strong public transport links to Abingdon and Oxford city centre. There is a parade of local shops including a CO-OP store (selling local produce) and an independent pharmacy.

Market Quarter is a collection of 256, apartments and houses that are rated BREEAM Ecohomes ‘excellent’. Environmental features include high levels of insulation, low voltage lighting , dual flush toilets and aerated taps, external rainwater harvesting systems, and HomeZones, which provide traffic calming measures.

• zero-carbon

High levels of insulation, energy efficient heating systems, and low voltage lighting are installed. It is proposed to install a wind turbine to supplement the electricity supply to street the lighting; any surplus will be sold back to the National Grid.

• zero-waste

Recycling pods within the homes provided and communal storage area for the recycling bins for the apartments.

• sustainable water

Each home on average will use only 35 cubic metres (35,000 litres) of water per person per year achieved through dual flush toilets, aerated taps and efficient showerheads. External rainwater harvesting systems provided together with sustainable urban drainage design principles adopted for dealing with storm water.

• local and sustainable building materials

75% of the timber will be provided from sustainable sources.

• sustainable transport

The scheme is within easy walking distance of Chippenham train station and town centre. Innovative HomeZones streets, primarily designed for pedestrians and cyclists, compel drivers to reduce speed and travel carefully. Features include traffic calming shared surfaces, trees and planters, benches and play areas.

Stamford Brook, developed as a joint venture between Bryant Homes and Redrow Homes in association with the National Trust, gives home owners the opportunity to reduce electricity, gas and water usage, and to save on bills, through improving the air tightness of the properties, building in efficient systems and making it easy to segregate waste for recycling.

• zero-carbon

The development does not include any renewable energy sources, rather the philosophy has been to reduce energy requirements through higher levels of insulation and air tight construction. Passive and mechanical ventilation systems are included within most homes.

• zero-waste

Through the construction of the development construction waste is segregated and recycled as far as practically possible. Householders are encouraged so segregate their recyclables and each kitchen is equipped with segregated storage for waste to encourage use of local recycling schemes.

• sustainable water

Reduced water usage is promoted within the development through low flush toilets, reduced usage showerheads and tap restrictors.

• local and sustainable building materials

As far as practically possible all materials used have a reduced impact on the environment, e.g. CFC free - and are low in embodied energy. All timber is specified as sustainable and as far as possible recyclable materials particularly aggregate are used for construction.

• sustainable transport

The development seeks to promote cycling and walking through the enhancement of existing footpaths and the creation of new ones throughout the development particularly through the recently restored river corridor.