40 CASE STUDY


generation and demand comes from a renewable source.”


The company claims its fabric-first approach has delivered retirement communities that have a lower carbon footprint, and are overall more sustainable, than other new build housing. High quality insulation is coupled with schemes that eschew gas in favour of electricity. However, added to this is the firm’s approach of preferring town centre brownfield locations, which the company says results in an average carbon saving of 0.35 tonnes (based on residents driving less).


A strong emphasis is placed on landscaping, and delivering biodiversity net gain, and the firm’s model of building apartment blocks also means land use


WWW.HBDONLINE.CO.UK


(1.3 tonnes).


is more efficient. Overall the developer claims its apartments emit one tonne less CO2


(0.3 tonnes) than a new build house


RETIREMENT HOUSING – FOR EVERYONE? The ageing population trend isn’t expected to slow down at any point soon; it’s anticipated to continue increasing “significantly” over the next 30 years. It’s therefore no surprise, says Brownhill, that housing purpose-built for the older generation is the only type that the National Planning Policy Framework has identified as ‘critical.’ “This creates challenges as well as opportunities,” he says, “in terms of how to support the increasing number of older people in the UK while addressing the vast undersupply


of suitable homes.”


Brownhill refers to a recent report by Knight Frank which found that while the number of 0ver 65s is expected to increase by 22% over the next 30 years, less than 3% of the UK’s housing stock meets their particular set of needs. The report also revealed that a lack of suitable options was preventing many from downsizing, with demand for specialist housing at over 30,000, but only 7,500 units delivered in 2020. Finally, it found that 36% of local authorities don’t have a clear policy in place with regards to retirement housing.


These are major issues confronting us – based on a host of reasons, but Brownhill explains how it’s a great opportunity too: “As the population ages, it is vital that


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