Project:
New build private house
Location:
Mendip Hills - AONB
In Brief:
Easton Bevins is often instructed to advise on the technical design aspect of new-build properties and manage Building Regulations approval. We were recommended to a client developing an eco-friendly dwelling on the edge of the Mendips Hills in Somerset.
The Mendip Hills are classified as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and any building development work must conform to the rigorous planning restrictions implemented to help conserve such areas. The client's desire to create an eco-friendly home also entailed additional, less common considerations.
Helping meet environmental restrictions
The property is located on the Mendip escarpment on the edge of the Mendip Hills, a fantastic location that provides 270-degree views down over the Somerset Levels taking in Glastonbury Tor. The client quite rightly wanted to take advantage of these views so one side of the building is almost entirely glazed.
This area of the Mendip Hills is also a Special Area of Conservation for bats, and has nationally significant populations of the Greater Horseshoe and Lesser Horseshoe varieties. Following an ecological survey, we helped our client create and install ‘bat-friendly’ lighting which met with the ecologist’s approval.
Developing a stand-out, eco-friendly property
This eco-friendly property has been constructed using insulated concrete formwork (ICF), a low energy system which can help achieve greater energy efficiency and thermal performance. Although ICF is often used to achieve the coveted Passivhaus standard for buildings, it is a less usual construction material. The building also has a large, cantilevered green roof, which being located high up on a hillside needs to be able to cope with high wind loads. We engaged specialist engineers to help ensure that these aspects of the construction were accurately implemented, and that all works met both the required building regulations and environmental restrictions.
We are very proud to have played a part in such an interesting building project. The end result is a unique home that fulfils both the architect’s and client’s vision and sits very comfortably within its spectacular hilltop environment.
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