20/10/2009

BRE Scotland and Ravenscraig Ltd have announced the four consortiums who have been chosen to build homes of the future on the groundbreaking BRE Scotland Innovation Park in the heart of the Ravenscraig redevelopment scheme.

Selected from over eighty applicants who responded to an open call in June 2008, the successful consortiums are being led by CCG Scotland with Places for People; Powerwall Systems with Lovell Homes; Build ICF and Kraft Architecture.

Six full-scale demonstrator houses will be built on the two acre BRE Scotland Innovation Park which will channel over £2 million of new technology investment. Using a range of sustainable methods of construction and innovative materials, products and renewable energy technologies, the homes will showcase carbon emissions reduction, affordability, energy efficiency and climate change adaption.

A masterplan for the Park is being developed by Peter Wilder of MacFarlane Wilder Landscape Architects and work is scheduled to begin on site early next year.

Rufus Logan, Director of BRE Scotland said "This Park provides a great opportunity for Scotland to meet the low carbon agenda for homes, buildings, infrastructure and community design. Given the challenging economic climate we are operating in, we are overwhelmed by the interest and support we've received to develop it."

Earlier this year, BRE Scotland was awarded £500,000 from North Lanarkshire Council's Vacant and Derelict Land Fund and this money will be used to prepare the site for development. This will include the completion of landscaping and infrastructure works, such as new roads and a car park, as well as the installation of a sustainable drainage system (SUDS) and street lighting.

Doug McLeod, chair of Ravenscraig Ltd, said: "The BRE Innovation Park at Ravenscraig will be a model for new ways of living in Scotland and will demonstrate how we can make a lasting contribution to climate change. The aspirations for Ravenscraig are closely aligned with those of BRE Scotland with regards to sustainable development, and we share a common desire to create an enduring legacy which can act as a platform for the best of Scotland's design, innovation and technology."

The Innovation Park will build on the lessons learned by BRE's first demonstrator centre in Watford, which pioneered the use of groundbreaking technologies such as wind turbines, rainwater harvesting, heat recovery systems and recycled waste timber within individual homes.

BRE Scotland is inviting any companies interested in becoming involved in the development of the Innovation Park to attend an event on Friday 23^rd October at Motherwell College. This will provide an opportunity for the four existing development consortiums to present their ideas on the demonstrator homes and for other organisations to become involved in the project.

To register for the event or for further information, please contact Laura Birrell, Associate Director at BRE Scotland, on birrelll@bre.co.uk.

For more information, please contact: Linda McKeown, BRE, tel 01923 664569, mckeownl@bre.co.uk,

Notes to Editor
BRE  has been building a better world for almost 90 years through cutting edge research, consultancy and testing services. Our unrivalled knowledge in regard to sustainability and innovation is now used across the construction industry and in the corporate world creating better buildings, communities and businesses. BRE is part of the BRE Group of companies owned by the BRE Trust, a registered charity. The profits made by BRE go to the BRE Trust the largest UK charity dedicated specifically to research and education in the built environment.  http://www.bre.co.uk/ 

Ravenscraig Ltd:
Ravenscraig Ltd comprises Wilson Bowden, Scottish Enterprise and Corus. Ravenscraig is one of the most ambitious regeneration projects ever seen in Scotland and one of the largest in Europe. Once completed, Ravenscraig will be home to over 10,000 people, is expected to create 12,000 jobs and attract in excess of £1.4 billion of private sector investment over the next 15 to 20 years. In August 2009, the doors to the state-of-the-art £70 million Motherwell College opened for the first time, marking the completion of the first major development at Ravenscraig. Work is already well under way on a new £32 million regional sports facility and work on the first phase of housing is due to commence later this year. Plans are also being developed for the £600 million second phase of the project, which include the creation a new town centre for Ravenscraig.

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