INCA Case Study: Stanford Le Hope, Essex

One of the UK’s first zero carbon developments is now complete. Standing out with an innovative Modular Façade System from Wetherby Building Systems ltd.

The 153-home shared ownership development in Stanford-le-Hope, Essex has been delivered, including four impressive “Zero Energy Bill” homes.

The scheme has been funded by Gresham House Residential Secure Income LP for Thurrock Council and also partnered with Octopus Energy. Gresham House are a specialist alternative asset manager that is committed to helping alleviate the shortage of affordable housing in the UK and to delivering sustainable and innovative solutions to this problem.

The properties that were built in a modular factory setting in a North Yorkshire included two Wetherby Modular Façade Systems that had the majority of the system installed in the factory, prior to being transported to the Essex site for the finishing touches.

Wetherby’s technically approved and certified Modular EWI systems can provide energy efficient solutions to any units built offsite, while the thin-coat renders and brick slip cladding can all be applied either in a factory prior to site delivery or after the modules have been finally positioned on-site.

The Wetherby Modular System consisted of two variations used on this project. The first comprises 110mm High Density Enhanced EPS with clay brick slips. The insulation board has a unique tongue and groove interlocking configuration, designed on larger high density EPS insulation boards (1200mm x 1200mm). This significantly reduces boarding installation times while offering superior strength, high levels of impact resistance and protection against water ingress. The insulation boards are ribbed which provided the course for the 14mm brick slips in colour Light Red Multi Stock. Adhesive is applied to the boards and the brick slips are pressed firmly into place between the ridges ensuring the brick slips can be accurately placed in line and level. This method reduces application times and the need for skilled labour. Once set, pointing was completed using a natural-coloured pointing mortar, in the traditional manner.

For the render variation, the system used a 130mm Enhanced EPS board which was finished with Wetherby Four Seasons Silicone Render, also known as 4S. Four Seasons is a premium silicone render which has a quicker curing time than a standard render finish. 0500N and 0505 B20G were selected for as the chosen render colours to provide a bright and clean contrast to the red tone brick slips.

As well as each property being highly insulated, more than two-thirds of the properties on the development will also include state-of-the-art technology, meaning the houses will generate enough energy to become operationally carbon neutral.

In addition to the energy efficient technology on the scheme, the project will also include a significant amount of green open space replete with play areas, nature trails, attractive water features, a number of biodiversity areas to encourage local wildlife, and a network of footpaths and cycleways providing commutable connectivity into the town.

All homes at the development will be exclusively sold under shared ownership, supporting the government’s key drive for more affordable home ownership.

The final u-value for the project is a. impressive 0.16W/(m²K.

Alistair Wardell, investment director within Gresham House’s Housing team, said:”… With most houses being upgraded to operational zero carbon, our investment at Stanford Le Hope is helping to create a genuinely affordable development for future homeowners alleviating fuel poverty issues whilst protecting the environment.

“The homes are built in a factory setting, which allows for greater build efficiencies with significantly less waste and reduced carbon emissions during the construction process. The speed of delivery to site, provides enhanced returns from the development and means the model can deliver much-needed housing at a rate closer to market demand.”