House builder completes £3.5m wetland project to unlock 750 homes
House builder Redrow has completed a £3.5m wetland project to unlock 750 homes.
Redrow has completed the £3.5m Conningbrook Wetland project to unlock 750 homes in Ashford in Kent.
The project, part of Redrow’s Crown Hill View development, was designed to intercept and filter out nitrates and phosphates from river water drawn directly from the Great Stour.
Located on 3.2 hectares of former agricultural land, it is comprised of over 140,000 reeds, two concrete riverbank headwalls and a wet well and electric pumping station.
It was delivered in collaboration with Quinn Estates and GR Water Engineering.
Barrat Redrow, Redrow’s parent company, also worked with Natural England through its District Level Licensing scheme, to create off-site habitat protecting and enhancing the legally protected great crested newt.
Natural England provided advice to Barrow Redrow and Redrow’s South East division on nature recovery and managing impacts on water quality.
Its District Level Licensing scheme has also helped unlock development and growth by streamlining the planning process, reducing uncertainty and providing strategic ecological gains.
The Crown Hill View development was one of the first in the South East to secure full planning and environmental approvals for a purpose-built wetland mitigation scheme.
It comprises 278 one- and two-bedroom apartments, and three- and four-bedroom private homes and affordable housing – starting at £405,000.
The first phase of 147 homes is expected to complete by autumn, and more than 40 homes have already been occupied.
The houses are fitted with air source heat pumps and underfloor heating, in line with the Future Homes Standard.
The development has also delivered an upgraded public right of way, including a bridleway path which manages visitor impact on sensitive habitats.
There are also plans for a new Co-op delivered by Quinn Estates, a bowls club and a primary school.
Chris Lilley, managing director of Redrow South East, said: “Through close collaboration with Natural England, Quinn Estates, local stakeholders and our delivery partners, we’ve embedded biodiversity gain and nutrient mitigation from the outset – while also delivering high-quality, energy-efficient homes for local families.”
Marian Spain, chief executive of Natural England, said: “Nature underpins our nation’s growth, health, and security.
“That is why we must invest in nature recovery now rather than pay the price of damaged ecosystems in the future.
“Developers have a crucial role to play in ensuring that economic growth and environmental health go hand-in-hand.”
Related Content
- © Ocean Media Group