Morris Homes will build 344 eco homes in the first phase of a long-standing vision to regenerate the South Bank of Peterborough’s River Nene.
The project is designed to demonstrate to the house building industry how massive reductions in carbon emissions can be achieved by adopting improved design and construction technologies.
Martin Edmunds from Morris Homes said: “We are in the enviable position of being able to create something truly visionary. We believe our proposals fulfil the carbon challenge criteria in an exciting way.”
Morris Homes has worked with sustainable architecture specialist Browne Smith Baker after it was selected as the preferred developer following a national competition as part of the Carbon Challenge programme.
The development will be built to Level 6 of the Government’s Code for Sustainable Homes, and include, a sustainable urban drainage system and carbon zero energy generation alongside retail and community facilities.
The sustainable development will provide a mixture of 63 two-bedroom, 90 three-bedroom and 68 four-bedroom houses plus 74 two-bedroom apartments in a seven-storey block.
The apartment block, complete with a grass roof and green walling, will sit above a 3,000 sq ft food store.
Building the social homes elements has allowed the plan to benefit from a £7.8m grant from the Homes and Community Agency.
Terry Fuller, executive director for the HCA in the East and South East, said: “This is great news for Peterborough and the industry.
“The ‘zero carbon’ status aims to create new homes and places that are appealing, attractive and point the way to how we could all live in the future.
“The industry has to respond to climate change and planning approval on this development enables fast-track delivery of more zero carbon homes in England.”
The HCA’s Carbon Challenge programme challenges designers and house-builders to show how Level 6 of the Code can be delivered.
The first Carbon Challenge demonstration development is being constructed at the site of a former hospital at Hanham Hall, South Gloucestershire.