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Barn Hill Farm is a unique development, consisting of seven highly individual dwellings set around a central courtyard encircled by a medieval moat. The development is part of a Grade II Listed manorial estate and is surrounded by open fields and woodland. South facing gardens with footbridges provide access over the moat to patio areas in front of each dwelling. The properties have been carefully renovated and incorporate renewable energy systems which provide up to 100% of hot water and space heating requirements.

About the development

3 Bedroom £314,995 (click for details) 3 Bedroom £324,995 (click for details) 3 Bedroom £337,495 (click for details)

The conversion incorporates the following sustainable features:

Renewable Energy Sources

• Ground source heat pumps provide under floor heating and hot water for two of the conversions
• Solar panels provide hot water for all remaining homes, combined with high efficiency gas condensing boilers
• Passive (none powered) extract ventilation systems used in bathrooms and en-suites
• Sewage from the completed homes is dealt with by treatment plant on the site
• Low energy light fittings have been installed throughout

Sustainable design and materials

• All south (sun) facing elevations contain glazed doors for maximum natural heat gain into main living spaces
• All bricks are either reclaimed and re-used from the existing building or neighboring derelict barns
• Existing window frames have been refurbished and upgraded with double glazed inserts
• Existing roof tiles and ridges have been stripped, sorted and re-fixed wherever possible, with only the shortfall being made up in new tiles
• Existing walls have been lined with insulated plasterboard and loft spaces insulated to exceed current building regulations for thermal insulation
• Doors and other joinery items produced from sustainable timber
• All surplus excavated rubble has been stockpiled and re-used on site

Ecology

The existing moat and pond remain natural focal points for the wildlife living at the conversion site; cars and parking has been kept remote from the outdoor living spaces and water features.

Coots, moorhens, ducks, water voles, rabbits, kingfishers, finches, swallows, wagtails and tits are all resident at Barn Hill. The shared pond and moat is stocked with carp, bream, rudd and roach.

Ground source heat pumps

The surface of the Earth acts as a vast solar collector, constantly absorbing energy from the sun. Heat pumps use this solar energy stored in the ground, in groundwater or in the air by extracting it and transferring the heat into the home.

Unlike other renewables such as solar panels and wind turbines this energy is available all year round therefore a heat pump can provide 100% of heating and domestic hot water needs, making them a real alternative to conventional heating systems.

The only power needed to operate the heat pump is a minimal electrical power control for the pump. Heat pump applications work particularly well with under-floor heating systems due to the low operating temperatures involved. With very few moving parts heat pump systems are low maintenance and have long life expectancies.

Solar Panels

Solar radiation is a constant energy flow emitted by the sun equally in all directions. This energy source can be exploited through correct use and design of Solar Thermal Domestic Hot Water systems, offering large cost saving potential, whilst at the same time making a valuable contribution to the protection of the earth’s resources and the environment.

A correctly designed Solar Thermal system can save approximately 60% of the annual energy demand required for hot water heating for an average household in the UK, making a significant reduction in annual fuel costs.

In an average home a well designed solar thermal system will provide around 60% of the domestic hot water requirements. Solar thermal systems generate energy during sunlight hours all year round even on overcast and cloudy days although optimum efficiency is achieved on warm and brighter days. In summer months the system may provide 100% of the demand requiring no additional energy at all. For the rest of the year, the solar heating is supplemented by a second, independent heat source such as a condensing boiler.

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