Berkeley Homes’ sustainable housing concept

Property developer Berkeley Homes has revealed a brand new sustainable housing design idea that lowers household bills by up to 25% and allows residents to save up to 83% on gas and 30% on water.

The first two streets consisting of 22 homes dubbed the ‘Urban House’ design has been completed in Kidbrooke Village in Greenwich. Modern construction methods were used throughout that will minimise energy, waste and noise.

The build consists of a three-story Urban House that has a secluded private roof garden, rather than the normal back garden. This allows double the number of houses to be constructed, because less ground area is needed for each house. Even though the houses are compact, they still offer front of house parking and bicycle storage. The design is built with energy efficiency measures in mind, which results in a 19% reduction in carbon emissions, and potential reductions in water usage of up to 30% compared to a new home.

Berkeley Group chairman Tony Pidgley said: “The Urban House has light, space and character. It offers you a home that is flexible, economical and beautifully designed. I think it will help us build the types of home that people love at the kind of densities that could solve the housing crisis.”

Berkeley reported a 20% fall in reservations for new home builds recently, blaming the upcoming European Union (EU) referendum and its consequential uncertainty for the construction industry and property sector.

A flood of private sector investment could result in as many as 8,000 zero-carbon homes introduced in the UK by 2018, so while the political landscape may look uncertain, there are definite signs that a new, business-driven sustainability movement could well be on the way.

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