Ockford Ridge
Updated: 25 January 2024
Location: Godalming Surrey
Developer: Thakeham
Number of units: 17 houses
Aim(s) of Project: Net Zero Regulated Emissions per dwelling
Construction method: Timber frame
Energy Compliance method: SAP 2012
Overheating compliance method: No overheating calculations carried out
Construction start: April 2021
Construction finish: March 2022
Overview of Project and Specification
The project is in Godalming and comprises 17 homes, all of which are affordable. The client was Waverley BC.
Thakeham always offer engagement with their clients about the benefits of increasing sustainability, including net zero carbon advice and enquire if they have an appetite to go above and beyond Building Regulations.
In this case Waverley District Council were keen to set ambitious goals for this regeneration project. This was the council’s first scheme to completed as a net zero carbon development. It shows how small, but critically important schemes such as this, can deliver this key milestone at affordable levels.
The houses are of timber frame construction, with good thermal bridging, good double glazing, solar panels and waste water heat recovery (WWHR). Ventilation is decentralised mechanical extract ventilation and used house types requested by the local authority rather than our standard net zero carbon house types.
As a result of the successes of this project, Thakeham were contracted to deliver the next phase of the project including Air Source Heat Pumps.
Key learnings
- Waste Water Heat Recovery (WWHR) for the homes are vertical pipe systems that required additional boxing on this project. Thakeham are looking at ways to integrate this into the frame of the building to speed up production for carpentry and drylining.
- WWHR for the flats are horizontal systems which were four times the cost of the vertical systems for the homes. For future flat schemes, Thakeham plan to avoid this expense and instead increase the amount of solar PV on the roof to compensate.
- This site was based on previous building regulations, which meant that it still has gas boilers with Flue Gas Heat Recovery which means that the boilers are taller than the standard boiler housing for kitchens. Thakeham are learning from this, knowing that future equipment including the hot water storage cylinders for Air Source Heat Pumps may require custom housings that need to be refined with the specification alongside the kitchen design.