housing

Graylingwell Park, Chichester

Graylingwell Park, Chichester

The UK's largest carbon-neutral new homes development

calfordseaden are appointed to provide employer's agent and technical inspector services  at Graylingwell Park, which will be the UK's largest carbon-neutral development offering around 750 new and converted eco-friendly homes. This scheme has recently won Inside Housing magzine's Sustainable Housing Awards for 'Sustainable Large Social Housing Project of the Year', 'Best Low or Zero Carbon Initiaitve' at the Housebuilder Awards 2010, plus the Royal Town Planning Institute's award for Community Engagement.

This new joint project by Linden Homes, Affinity Sutton and the Homes & Communities Agency is located on the former Graylingwell Hospital site close to Chichester city centre and will take approximately eight years to complete.  The first phase is currently underway with the construction of 105 homes along with two three-bedroom show homes demonstrating the design and quality of accommodation available to buyers.

The first phase includes two and three-bedroom terraced homes, followed by the provision of apartments and larger family homes, both newly built and imaginative conversions within stately Victorian buildings.  To preserve the character and charm of the site, restoration of the listed farmhouse and original chapel along with a pavilion and water tower will be undertaken.

Mark Perry, commercial director of Affinity Sutton, comments: "Graylingwell Park is all about the opportunity to create a whole new community and we're giving people a range of ways to come and be part of it.  There will be the chance to get that all important first step on the property ladder and using our shared ownership scheme, buyers can purchase as little as a 25% stake for £58,750.  There will also be homes to rent through Chichester District Council."

This development will provide energy efficient homes with heating supplied by a central heating and power plant within an on-site energy centre, and with the homes using 33 per cent less water than average.  Bus and cycle routes to key local areas and a car and cycle club will also be available.

The homes' design was inspired by the architecture of Chichester and will combine a variety of materials including red brick with yellow to light orange render to complement the Victorian buildings, natural silver colour timber cladding to reflect the woodlands with light blue render and grey roof slates and solar panels.  The provision of balconies and roof terraces offer panoramic views across the 85 acres of landscaped parkland, including nature trails, large areas of open space, allotments and a communal orchard.

Steve Bangs, managing director of Linden Homes says: "Graylingwell Park will be much more than just a place to live; we are creating a whole way of life, with sustainability and environmental responsibility at the heart of everything we do here.  It's about living in a limitless environment; this landmark scheme will be a destination in its own right, serving the wider community in and around Chichester and will be a benchmark for future sustainable developments."

Further information on Graylingwell Park, Chichester is available here