English Partnerships has announced its Carbon Challenge shortlist for England’s first eco-village in Bristol to be built to Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, amid strong competition from developers.

The seven developers shortlisted to build the 150 home development on a 6.1 hectare former hospital site at Hanham Hall in Bristol include: Artisan H, Barratt Homes, Edward Ware Homes, Gleeson Homes, Places for People, Taylor Wimpey, and Urban Splash (South-West).

The evaluation panel, advised by BRE, DCLG, consultants Entec and Jacobs, made its selection based on developers “who demonstrated they understood, not only the aspirations of the Carbon Challenge, but also the opportunities presented by the site with its Grade II listed building”.

Carbon Challenge project manager Jayne Lomas at English Partnerships said: “We were extremely pleased with the level of response to the PQQ [pre-qualifying questionnaire] and have chosen seven bidders who clearly demonstrated how to address the dichotomy of achieving Code Level 6 housing together with skilled preservation work in the context of a heritage building.”

A more substantive response to the detailed site brief issued by English Partnerships will now be invited, to include “a target of the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 6, which can be achieved by reducing carbon emissions, incorporating features to reduce water usage and energy consumption, minimising waste, and increasing biodiversity”.

EP adds that another key aspect of the Carbon Challenge is that it requires developers “to demonstrate that Code Level 6 homes can be combined with cutting edge high quality building design while remaining affordable and economically viable on a commercial scale”.

The Carbon Challenge aims to raise environmental standards by achieving Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, combining high quality design with exceptional environmental performance; to “drive down construction and supply chain costs through economies of scale – while aiming to approach zero carbon”; to incorporate lifestyle features encouraging environmentally positive behavioural changes, and to  ensure affordability.

The shortlist for the second eco-village,  at Peterborough, will be announced later this year.

http:/www.englishpartnerships.com/carbonchallenge.htm