Abri, one of the south’s largest housing providers, and South East-based community creator Thakeham Homes, are working together a new development near Guildford which is predicted to be one of the most sustainable in the region.
With the highest standards in sustainable community creation, over 300 solar panels will be installed across the development of 139 new homes at West Horsley.
The homes will also be built with a selection of fast electric charging points and high standards of insulation. The new homes will achieve at least 30% reduction in carbon emissions; that’s 50% more than the policy requirement of 20%.
The sustainability claim follows the completion of the land purchase in a joint venture with Abri. Work is now expected to begin on the 139-home development in May 2022 with completion in Spring 2024.
Abri and Thakeham will build a range of two-storey homes, apartments on the green field site; a combination of 74 homes for private sale and 56 affordable homes. The average carbon emissions per dwelling will be only 1.5 tonnes C02 per year – around half the UK average.
Stephen Lodge, Executive Director of Development and Strategic Asset Management at Abri said: “We’re looking forward to starting work at West Horsley in this joint venture with Thakeham. We’ve seen at Woodgate in Pease Pottage how our shared values have helped to create a dynamic new community worthy of the local area.
“Abri is committed to building 12,500 new homes by 2030 and in addition to these much needed affordable homes, in our second partnership with Thakeham, we’re helping create a more sustainable future with energy efficient homes and facilities for the community to thrive.”
For Thakeham Rob Boughton, CEO said: “The development will focus on affordability and sustainability. We reduced the predicted annual carbon emissions from this development by more than 20,000 kg CO2 of what was required. That is effectively the equivalent emissions of nearly 10 homes every year. The properties will achieve this with enhanced insulation and by doubling the air tightness.
“It’s wonderful news that work is about to begin on this development. This joint venture with Abri has been in strategic planning and promotion for eight years. Our shared focus on sustainability has meant we now expect to meet ambitious targets over and above those expected by the local authority. After so much hard work we now look forward to creating much-need affordable homes for local buyers. We can’t wait to get started.”
The plans feature a Suitable Alternative Natural Green Space (SANG) for the homes to the North of the site. Other highlights include a junior sports hall and two padel tennis courts. Thakeham and Abri will also provide a new building for Footprints Day Nursery facility within the development.
They will also enjoy a biodiversity Net Gain thanks to ponds, wet meadow and species-rich grassland. There will be hedgehog highways plus bat and bird boxes; both provided on trees and integrated into the walls of new buildings.
Thakeham Group and Abri have already worked together, most notably in a joint venture at The Woodgate development in Pease Pottage. The 45-hectare site includes 619 new homes, primary school, community-owned shop and a coffee shop, a community facility, parks, a pavilion and a new St Catherine’s Hospice.
The West Horsley development is being managed by Thakeham’s Thames Valley region. The new regional office was opened by Former-prime minister, Lady Theresa May last year. The office, located in Wokingham, is for staff working exclusively on Thames Valley-based community creation projects.
