HOUSING

St John's Church, Wembley

The first vicarage in the UK to meet the Government's rigorous Code for Sustainable Homes Level 6 is to be built in west London. The flagship development designed by calfordseaden will also provide a new community centre for the Parish Church Council of St John's and 20 affordable homes built to Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4.

The development which is being undertaken by housing and regeneration group LHA-ASRA consists of the detached two-storey zero carbon building will deploy photovoltaic panels and state of the art ground source heat pumps, solar thermal technology and rainwater harvesting.   The full scheme also includes a new multi function hall for the church and local community along with 12 flats and a terrace of 8 houses.  All the residential units are designed to Code Level 4.

The site is in the grounds of a listed Victorian church (designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott) and the cluster of new buildings use flint and stone as part of the palette of materials for the elevations both to reflect the architecture of the church and to create an appropriate setting for it.  The proposals create an external street for the housing elements incorporating a new square at its mid point to enhance the appearance of the church and to provide it with a 'parvis', an internal street that separates the flats from the community building and can you used for displays, exhibitions and small groups.  The community building houses a multi use hall, two large meeting rooms, crèche facilities and a kitchen.

Construction commenced on site early summer 2010.

Clients: LHA-ASRA

Contract Period: 2 years

Value: £3.75 million

Services: Architect and sustainability adviser