Background:

Aqua Construction commenced site work in March 2023 on the current 11 homes development at Chapel End, Hartpury.

The former agricultural land was previously privately owned by a local family and planning consent was granted in November 2021 for 11 dwellings.

It is scheduled for completion in Spring 2024 and features a mix of 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom homes, as well as social housing.

With sustainability and the environment in mind, these Hartpury homes come with an ‘A’ rated EPC featuring rainwater harvesting, air source heat pumps for underfloor heating, and roof mounted solar panels, for energy efficiency and reduced ownership costs. In addition, there are electric vehicle charging points at each property.

Quattro Design Architects of Gloucester were appointed to provide architectural drawings and Black Box Planning assisted with planning. The properties are being sold by local estate agent Appleby’s of Gloucester.

Aqua Construction partnered with developer Brunel Homes in acquiring the land.

Housing and estate design:

The housing design is traditional and in keeping with neighbouring developments, brickwork and clay plain tiles are the main facing materials with anthracite grey windows, doors, and fascia/bargeboards to give a modern twist to development.

As a rural site and with the environment in mind, ecological enhancement, and mitigation measures were an important consideration at the design stage. A street lighting strategy was produced to not interfere with the bats and the further provision of bat roosting boxes are to be incorporated into the scheme.

Hedgehog highway routes are proposed between neighbouring fences together with hedgehog nesting boxes. Various bird nesting boxes are to be incorporated into the build. Existing hedgerows are to be enhanced and new hedges will be planted with native species.

Sustainability was a key factor in the development of the technical design. Surface rainwater harvesting from the estate road and roofs will be discharged to an attenuation pond where it will be stored and then the discharge controlled into an existing water course rather than the sewer network.

Air source heat pumps will provide underfloor heating and roof mounted solar panels will offset some of the owner’s energy bills.

All properties will have an ‘A’ rated EPC for ultimate energy efficiency. Electric vehicle charging points are to be provided to each property.