Carrowbreck Meadow
Staff from Broadland District Council, NPS Group and Norwich Fringe Project got hands on to create a woodland walk and animal shelter at the new Carrowbreck Meadow housing development in Hellesdon, Norwich.
Volunteers took part in the conservation day to help lay a woodland path and construct a hibernaculum – an overwintering site for insects and reptiles. The work was led by the Norwich Fringe Project who will be managing the woodland after the housing development is completed.
Designed by Hamson Barron Smith, Carrowbreck Meadow is a new development of 14 family homes in a mature woodland setting. The houses are built to Passivhaus standards – the international benchmark for excellence in energy efficient construction.
It is the first development for Broadland Growth Ltd, a commercial company set up by Broadland District Council and NPS Group to focus on high quality developments with excellent energy efficiency.
The development is a mix of houses for sale on the open market and homes offered on a shared equity basis with priority given to people with strong links to the Broadland district. Nine of the new houses have already been reserved, with the first new homeowners likely to move in by the end of September.
RG Carter, build contractors for the development, kindly supplied materials for the conservation day.
Councillor Andrew Proctor, Chairman of Broadland Growth Limited and Leader of Broadland District Council, said: “We’re extremely proud of this new energy-efficient housing development, which ties in with our ambition of environmental excellence. It’s also great to see staff get hands on to ensure that the whole ethos is reflected in the immediate landscape – making the location an ever better place to live for the new homeowners, whilst protecting local wildlife.”
Mike Britch, Managing Director of NPS Group, added: “As a Group, we are committed to going beyond the boundaries of normal business to support the communities in which we work. Our staff are rightly proud of how we endeavour to minimise the environmental impact, and maximise the social benefits of our developments. By taking part in this conservation day we are able to show that our commitment to this special project and site goes much further than just the design and delivery of high quality, low energy sustainable homes.”
Matt Davies, Project Officer for the Norwich Fringe Project, said: “The volunteer work day was a great success – we were able to create a home for lizards and reptiles and lay a wood chip path through the woodland. Thanks also to Darrel Moore, a local tree surgeon, and Thorpe St Andrew Town Council for giving up their time and supplying the wood chips for free”.
