Work to deliver a new stone mining heritage centre and some of the greenest new homes in Bath is due to begin in earnest over the coming weeks, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has announced.
HCA has agreed a contract that will see its developer partner begin working on the first stages of the transformation of Ralph Allen Yard, Combe Down. Cox Development Partners will start preparing the site this month for the development of a new information centre and nine high-quality, sustainable homes.
The information centre is intended to present the area’s long history of stone production and provide local residents and community groups with a public meeting space.
The new ‘zero carbon’ homes will be built to Level 5 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, which is a much higher standard than traditionally built new housing and will make them amongst the most environmentally-friendly new housing in the city. Green features will include photovoltaic panels to generate electricity, a living green sedum roof and tripled glazed windows to reduce carbon emissions.
The project has been supported by investment from the HCA and is one of the final stages of its £150m Land Stabilisation project at Combe Down, which was carried out between 1999 and 2009.
Colin Molton, HCA Executive Director for the South and South West, said: ‘This work is a significant step in what has been a hugely important project for us. When complete, Ralph Allen Yard will act as a legacy to reflect the mining heritage of the area and set a benchmark for new homes that will be delivered there. Local people told us that this was important when they were consulted on this project. It’s great news that work is now about to start.’
Councillor Cherry Beath, Bath and North East Somerset Council’s Cabinet Member for sustainable development, said: ‘It’s great news that the HCA is funding this exemplar project as part of the legacy of the Combe Down Stone Mines project and we welcome how sustainable this development will be. We look forward to working with the HCA to develop best practice from this project to enable increased sustainability on other schemes across the district as more homes are provided over the coming years.’
Richard Read, Chairman of the Combe Down Stone Legacy Trust, which is set up to run the new centre, said: ‘We are very pleased that work will be starting soon and are greatly looking forward to beginning discussions with the developer on the internal design of the centre, and of course, to its opening next year.’
Ian Cox, Director of Cox Development Partners, said he was ‘delighted’ to be working with partners to deliver ‘a fitting legacy of sustainable development’.
Part of a historic stone wall at Rock Hall Lane will be retained and enhanced as part of the development work. The project will continue until December 2013.
Dept of Homes & Communities Article: LINK
