Community development, high levels of energy efficiency and environmental enhancements are leading values of the Shaldon Road scheme, being delivered by contractor United Living in partnership with United Communities and the Bristol Community Land Trust, with support from Bristol City Council and Homes England.

The homes are being built to ‘PassiveHaus' principles, with each energy efficient property featuring a mini ‘Shoebox' ground-source heat pump connected to an ambient shared ground loop array, supplied and installed by Cornish manufacturer Kensa Heat Pumps and Kensa Contracting.

Complementing the low-carbon ground source heat pumps will be an MVHR (mechanical vented heat recovery) system, making the homes, even more, energy-efficient and further lowering fuel bills for the residents.

Encasing these renewable heat technologies, the homes will be constructed using a single skin 'Porotherm' block, cutting construction time and delivering improved thermal properties over traditional construction. Solar PV panels will also feature in the development to further reduce costs while supporting a green transport plan which features electric car charging points, a car share scheme and improved pedestrian and cycle access.

George Gillow, business development manager, Kensa Contracting, said: "It is a pleasure to be involved in the development of high-quality, energy-efficient housing, specifically built for local families, while also helping Bristol to reduce its CO₂ emissions and improve local air quality with British-made ground-source heat pumps."