Livv Homes begins Kirkby net zero pilot 

The housing association is to implement various carbon reduction technologies across its 15-home Copthorne Walk scheme to see how the push for low carbon development will play out. 

Livv’s Kirkby scheme will act as a pilot to explore the short to mid-term impact of moving to a net-zero development programme, the company said. 

By utilising several different technologies to meet changing legislative requirements, Livv will be able to assess the impact on the company going forward. 

Livv Homes will take a ‘fabric first’ approach to its Kirkby development, which will comprise a mixture of semi-detached houses and one-bedroom apartments.  

The site will be developed with three different energy efficiency specifications.  

• Delivering to the assumptions to be set for the new Part L of the Building Regulations – After June 2022, all new homes will be expected to produce 31% less CO2 emissions than currently 
• Delivered with and without gas heating systems – the government is expected to ban the use of gas boilers in new builds from 2025 
• Delivering to the assumptions attached to the proposed Future Homes Standards using air source heat pump heating systems. 

The pilot aims to provide live analysis of the impact and solutions required to deliver improvements to carbon reduction in the future, Livv said. 

To support its research, the housing association will be working in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University, which will present a series of learned experiences at the end of the pilot. 

Delivered by SEP Construction Services, the construction of Copthorne Walk is now underway, and the development is due to be completed in Spring 2023.  

The pilot will then run for 12 months after completion. 

“By being proactive, the pilot will allow us to understand the likely impact of emerging changes to legislation and what this means to the type of design and technologies that will need to be adopted for future new build developments,” said Yvonne Westhead-Fyles, director of development at Livv Housing Group. 

“We will be working very closely with our customers once they’re living in the homes to review their perceptions of comfort, ease of use and control and importantly, the impact of carbon improvements to their fuel bills.” 

Jay Quadrio, director at SEP Construction Services, added: “One of the important factors within the sustainability agenda is the use of new technologies and construction materials and methods to produce homes that are efficient to heat and maintain.  

“Therefore, we are both excited and privileged to be involved within this important project with Livv and LJMU, which will provide real data on how best to develop efficient homes for the future.” 

Your Housing Group is carrying out a similar pilot in partnership with the University of Liverpool and Changing Streams.

Together, the companies will design and build six prototype houses in an effort to create homes that are economically viable and environmentally friendly.

Each of the houses will focus on a different solution to reducing plastic and carbon and addressing fuel poverty.