Sustainability

The Code for Sustainable Homes is a national standard for the sustainable design and construction of new homes. The Code follows from the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM) and the Ecohomes Assessment and aims to reduce ecological impacts and create homes that contribute to environmental sustainability. For smaller housing developments, in which we specialise, achieving maximum credits under the Code relies on an innovative approach and intelligent and creative design with regard to ecology, biodiversity and wildlife gardening.

Above all, our ecological consultants strive for innovation when it comes to designing and developing sustainable projects. Even simple and inexpensive measures such as log piles, dead wood habitats, stone piles, ponds, bat boxes and bird boxes can provide significant ecological benefits. Modern and developing technology such as brown roofs, green roofs and living walls, Wildlife gardening is also a key element in sustainable development, particularly under the Code for Sustainable Homes. We are able to provide expert advice on garden and landscape planting to maximise the wildlife value of gardens, including specific species lists for particular sites and habitats.

Windrush Ecology Ltd. has a broad experience of the Code for Sustainable Homes, Ecohomes and BREEAM and can act as Suitably Qualified Ecologists for the purposes of the assessment; our ecological consultants being full members of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (IEEM). Recent Code for Sustainable Homes and BREEAM projects include a number of new dwellings in Oxfordshire as well as small residential and non-residential developments in London, Gloucestershire and Berkshire.