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Show House Magazine:

Jan 2006

“Living Villages is another company set up to promote and develop the design construction and improvement of building in accordance with environmentally and ecologically sound principles. It is now constructing the second phase of homes at the Wintles, Bishops Castle, Shropshire.

Each of the 40 four to six bed room houses is different, and the design philosophy is to provide attractive, energy efficient homes set within safe, quiet pedestrian zones connected by pathways, with direct access to open countryside. Embodied energy use is reduced through the use of natural, local and reclaimed materials.

The specification includes a super-insulated, engineered, timber-frame structure together with passive solar gain and internal thermal-mass heat store. High performance double glazing, airtight openings and heat exchange units help to create a theoretical “zero heat” house with air filtering system ensuring a healthy interior environment.

Each house is plumbed ready for water recycling while active solar panels for hot water heating are standard fittings and photovoltaic solar panels for electricity production are optional. For colds snaps there is a wood burning stove and underfloor heating is provided.