We are excited to have submitted a planning application for a scheme of nine low-energy homes in Hertfordshire, in a beautiful village setting just outside Tring. As well as the mixture of three-bed and four-bed homes, the scheme will provide a communal garden and planting zones to enhance biodiversity across the site.

TAS Architects’ designs for the new dwellings centre on sustainability. Our proposal is to use thermally efficient construction, which is close to Passivhaus principles and provides a high level of air tightness. Prefabricated timber construction will reduce the time developers need to be on site. This minimises the carbon and environmental impact as well as disruption for the local community.

The TAS team has oriented the homes carefully to optimise solar gain in winter and reduce overheating in summer. All dwellings will benefit from photovoltaic solar panels, air source heat pumps, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery and electric car charging points, and there is a possibility of a ground source heat pump.

The scheme is designed not only to provide an exceptionally high standard of living, but to benefit the wider village. As well as new footpaths, the plans provide a new access to the village primary school and bus drop-off area. This will improve safety for the children who otherwise access the school on the busy through road and reduce traffic issues for the community.

We have designed the scheme to make a positive contribution to flood mitigation, which has been a problem in the village for many years. By integrating water storage in a detention basin and swale, the development will help reduce flood risk outside the site area as well as within the development.

Our design preserves most existing trees and retains existing hedgerows to protect local wildlife. New tree planting will invite more birds, insects and animals to the site, which borders open fields and woodland areas.

We have included several integrated features within the homes themselves to boost biodiversity. These measures include bird, bat and bee homes within chimneys and green roofs.

We’re delighted to propose such a considered selection of low-energy housing in Hertfordshire. TAS Architects’ aim is to continue to push the boundaries of how to meet local housing needs in a considerate, sustainable way.