Selwood Garden Community

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Selwood Garden Community

Selwood Garden CommunitySelwood Garden CommunitySelwood Garden Community
  • Home
  • Welcome
  • The Vision
  • Principles
  • Masterplan
  • Technical Work
  • Highways
  • Character Areas
  • Building Heights Plan
  • Project Timeline
  • Have Your Say

technical work - sustainability & energy

Minimising the development’s impact on the environment and reducing the CO2 emissions generated across its lifetime is an important consideration for us. 


The first stage of achieving this is to ensure that sustainable building techniques and low-impact materials will be used where possible. Also, the design of the dwellings will also play an important role in determining their future energy requirements. To secure this, the planning application will set out a construction checklist that will seek the following be delivered as part of future detailed proposals for the site:

 •  Plot layout and fenestration for solar gain and control

 •  Maximising opportunities for natural ventilation

 •  Efficient fabric performance

 •  On-plot electrical vehicle charging points

 •  Range of electric vehicle charging points including reversible charging   capability

 •  On-plot renewable heat generation opportunities, such as heat pumps

 •  LED lighting and smart controls

 •  Climate change adaptation measures where required (e.g. thermal mass)

 •  Low impact materials for construction

 •  Facilities for working from home in each dwelling

 •  Construction waste recycling

 •  Water efficient appliances and fittings

 •  Garden planting for biodiversity

 •  Habitat integration including bat and bird boxes, bug hotels etc.

 •  Recycling facilities internally and externally

 •  Cycle storage facilities for sustainable transport

 •  Innovative construction standards to be tested in innovation areas


These construction related measures will secure improvements over standard housing. 

Further substantial CO2 emissions savings will be sought through off-plot renewable energy generation. Options considered include:


•  Communal Heating – Communal heating has no business case at this density and other schemes where this has been adopted (such as Cranbrook near Exeter) have experienced problems with this technology; 

•  Wind – the complexities of delivering wind power at scale on a suitable site is beyond what SGC can achieve. However, wind power is being considered separately by Frome Renewable Energy Co-op (on an unrelated basis to these proposals)

•  Solar – the site orientation, with large areas of sloping ground facing in a southerly direction, lends itself to harnessing renewable energy via this option

•  Hydro – given the size of the River Frome any such scheme could only be micro in scale with negligible impact respect to delivering energy to meet the majority of the proposed schemes needs, and has a poor economic business model due to limited flow rates; and

•  Microgrid – this technology limited by regulatory complexities to a solution of circa 300 dwellings, so whilst it may have a role to play, would only cover a small part of the site, such as the community hub. 

what are our next steps?

sustainability & energy efficiency plan


next steps

 As set out above, the conclusion of the assessment that has been undertake is that solar energy has the greatest potential to assist us in making the development as close to zero carbon as possible.


At this stage it has been concluded that solar energy has significant potential to help achieve a low carbon urban extension. Having identified an area for a community solar array, the team is now working with Frome Renewable Energy Co-op on mechanisms for delivering that. 

Next Page:

Highways: Active Travel

Find out more

Whilst we hope most people will be able to access this information online, a printed version of the consultation can be viewed by appointment at Rook Lane Chapel, Bath Street, Frome, BA11 1DN for the duration of the consultation period. 


To arrange an appointment, please telephone 01373 468 030 or email mailbox@nvblandscape.co.uk 


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Selwood Garden Community - Consultation Now Closed

This consultation ran from the 25th September - 18th October 2020. Thank you for all your comments in relation to this exciting project for Frome.