Our team headed down to Winsford last month to have a look at the progress to date and were amazed at just how far along the site currently is, many of the new homes are currently undergoing and the project is well on track for completion in 2023.
Back in 2019 MPSL submitted plans on behalf of EQUANS UK & Ireland’s Wharton Green, Development in Winsford, Cheshire. The £18m project will form part of the ‘Build Back Greener’ strategy, which is becoming an increasing focus for councils, house-builders and architects as new sustainability regulations loom on the horizon.
Our team headed down to Winsford last month to have a look at the progress to date and we were amazed at just how far along the site currently is, many of the new homes are currently undergoing and the project is well on track for completion in 2023.
Unique in its design, this development focuses fully on the future of house building with five of the properties designed in anticipation of Future Homes Standards which is due to be released in 2025. With the deadline fast approaching, the issue of sustainability in planning and development is one that is currently being thrown into the spotlight.
The five innovative Zero Carbon homes on the development will incorporate air source heat pumps, MVHR, upgraded air tightness, increased cavity space and insulation and solar panels. Wharton Green will eventually be home to 138no. two, three and four-bedroom homes and will also include improvements to local highway infrastructure and community open space.
These new measures achieve Zero Carbon by directly offsetting in-use regulated carbon by 100% with current estimates putting savings at around £400/£575 per year on energy bills, a welcome decline in costs for anyone.
All other non-zero carbon homes have been carefully designed to be energy efficient as standard.
The 2025 targets and current changes to Part L & F in building regulations are regular reminders of the fundamental role housing will play in reducing the environmental impact in building and maintaining homes.
The essence of Wharton Green is that it’s providing much needed homes for the region but also enabling the pilot of solutions to achieve future environmental & sustainability standards which are being tested and will be offered optionally on future schemes leading to 2025 drivers.
Steve Gregory, Construction Director at EQUANS UK & Ireland, said: “We’re delighted to be working alongside MPSL, ForViva, Cheshire West & Cheshire Council and QWEST on the Wharton Green scheme, which will see 138 much needed homes built in Winsford, Cheshire, some of which constructed to achieve future zero carbon standards which we are piloting and monitoring to ensure we can incorporate into subsequent schemes.
EQUANS UK & Ireland is committed to helping local authorities and clients reach their net zero carbon targets, and we’re looking forward to people starting to move into the development from early in 2022”.
Projects such as Winsford give MPSL the opportunity to explore regulations and changes that are coming in to play understanding how we can adapt our way of working to future practices.
Our focus will always be on ensuring we have the necessary knowledge and skills in-house to support our clients regardless of the changing house building landscape. Projects such as Winsford give MPSL the opportunity to explore regulations and changes that are coming in to play understanding how we can adapt our way of working to future practices.
The development is due to finish in May 2023 and we look forward to visiting once again in the near future and see the further progress and hopefully a sneak peak of the new show homes!
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Steven Gregory
Construction Director at EQUANS
“We’re delighted to be working alongside MPSL, ForViva, Cheshire West & Cheshire Council and QWEST on the Wharton Green scheme, which will see 138 much needed homes built in Winsford, Cheshire, some of which constructed to achieve future zero carbon standards which we are piloting and monitoring to ensure we can incorporate into subsequent schemes. EQUANS is committed to helping local authorities and clients reach their net zero carbon targets, and we’re looking forward to people starting to move into the development from early in 2022”.