Improving Energy Efficiency In Rural Development Projects

As part of a drive to optimise energy efficiency in our rural developments, the Duchy of Lancaster has teamed up with Green Footsteps Ltd whose objective is to help clients reduce energy use in properties.

Banton’s Farm Barns on the Wyreside Estate in Lancashire are being brought back into use and the Duchy has implemented a series of additional measures to improve air tightness during the construction phase of the project. A practical demonstration and teaching session was recently held on site with Green Footsteps, the Duchy team, architects and the construction team to underline the importance of appropriate construction methods and specification of materials to keep air loss from the finished habitable space to an absolute minimum.  As well as the standard final air tightness and thermology test an interim test is also applied to the build to help sense-check and ensure the best possible air tightness outcome on the property.

Commenting on the session this month, Duchy Head of Rural Development Lara Thompson said: “These are small but important first steps to help reduce energy consumption for tenants and occupiers of Duchy redevelopment projects when we bring redundant buildings back into active use.   Green Footstep’s practical advice and guidance is invaluable, and we will now incorporate these simple steps into our in-house processes and procedures.”

The Duchy of Lancaster received planning consent for the residential conversion of a disused barn, stable block and cart-shed at Banton’s Farm in December last year. The steading itself is made up of a two-storey Grade II Listed farmhouse with an attached bank barn, as well as a single-storey stone outbuilding and a detached two-storey stable block with adjacent cart shed. Prior to the redevelopment proposals, the barns and outbuildings had been sitting empty and unused for several years. Using traditional materials, finishes and styling, they are now being transformed to create high quality, energy efficient homes with ground source heating systems for a new generation of local families.

August 29 2022