THE first homes at a landmark operational net zero carbon housing development in Kilmarnock are under construction.
CCG is building the properties for East Ayrshire Council. Located on Kennedy Drive, the 48 dwellings are designed to meet a range of needs for people including general needs, wheelchair accessible, and older ambulant disabled residents.
The project is the third and largest development designed to achieve (regulated) operational net zero carbon. Regulated operational energy is that which is consumed by the building and its controlled fixed services and systems such as heating, hot water, cooling, ventilation, fans, pumps, and lighting.
In order to achieve net zero emissions from regulated energy, each home utilises a range of renewable technologies including air source heat pumps and solar PV panels.
CCG said its expertise in the manufacture of timber systems integrated with triple-glazed windows and enhanced door sets will create an ‘advanced building fabric’ that will naturally retain warmth and reduce heat loss as well as lowering energy consumption.
David Wylie, CCG MD, explained, “Kennedy Drive will be the tenth development that CCG, in partnership with MAST Architects, will have delivered on behalf of East Ayrshire Council in the last seven years and it is the latest example of how collaboration and housing-led regeneration is delivering real change in communities like Kilmarnock.
“CCG’s experience in the applied research of net zero dates back to 2019. We acknowledged that with changes to building regulations, brought forward by the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Act, we had to have a practical, scalable and affordable solution that addressed the removal of gas heating systems which will prohibited in new build homes from April 1st 2024.
“This resulted in the creation of the ‘CCG Net Zero Home’, a building standard that is oven-ready to these forthcoming legislative requirements and one which has been used to deliver over 600 homes since its launch in 2021.
“Our applied research has not only helped clients begin their transition to net zero earlier, it has helped create a future-proof method of addressing localised housing need and demand across the breadth of the country.”
Since 2017, CCG has donated over £60,000 to community-based projects as well as created jobs, apprenticeships, and work placements across East Ayrshire as a result of the company’s housebuilding programme with the council.
To date, the contractor has created two full-time jobs as well as two work placements. CCG has also attended career events that has informed engagement with secondary school pupils from across the region.
The project is being developed with £5.147 million of grant funding from the Scottish Government.
