• Through our energy advice work we see a lot of people in poor housing, we think affordable housing should be built better.
  • We're in a Climate and Ecological Emergency, it is imperative that houses are built differently and use zero fossil fuels.
  • We've been working on this idea since 2017, we're submitting the planning application in December 2020.
  • We'd like to build in a field on the outskirts of Ivybridge.
  • We've undertaken a lot of surveys on the site.
  • There is access onto the Ivybridge-Bittaford road, it is close to bus stops and the train station.
  • There will be 30 Passivhaus homes, highly efficient design, super-low energy bills for tenants. 
  • A mix of 1,2,3 bed houses and flats some of which will be accessible, with tenancies to be confirmed (social/affordable/market).
  • Highly innovative energy systems including on site solar PV, renewable heating, shared electric vehicles  with vehicle to grid technology, smart metering and a microgrid to minimise energy imported from the grid.
  • We aim to minimise the impact of additional vehicles in the area with shared e-bikes and an EV car club to reduce the need for car ownership. 
  • We plan to enhance the biodiversity on site, eg with meadow roofs, ponds and more.
  • We'd like to encourage the householders to get to know each other, there will be shared play spaces, a community hub building, maybe a shared tool shed, we've incorporated many of the ideas from the community consultation ran in Aug 2020.
  • We can raise finance for this just as we would for a community energy generation project.
  • We're exploring setting up a new Community Land Trust to own the homes, please contact us if you're interested to get involved.
​“I am interested in this project and it looks precisely the kind of thing we need to be promoting." Sir Gary Streeter, MP SW Devon.
“It would be great to have such an innovative scheme in the South Hams.” Cllr Tom Holway, ward member for Ugborough and Ermington, South Hams District Council
Picture
All drawings by Sustainable Design Collective. www.sustainabledesigncollective.co.uk
Why
The concept
The need
​Project timeline
Current site
Surveys
Access and drainage
Proposed site layout
What will they look like
Passivhaus
Microgrid
Solar PV
Renewable heating
Electric vehicles (EVs)
Nature
Communal areas
Who can live here
How will we finance the project
Community consultation