Housebuilder Newland Homes is celebrating two unanimous planning approvals in Wiltshire, enabling the company to deliver more of its pioneering zero carbon homes across the South West.

In Trowbridge, Wiltshire Council granted approval for 50 zero carbon homes on the edge of the county town at Upper Studley. In the village of Semington, Newland Homes has been granted permission for an additional 17 zero carbon homes as the second phase of its successful St George’s Mead development.

Zero carbon homes are powered using renewable technologies (solar PV and air source heat pumps). Newland Homes has pioneered the creation of this type of home, which emits no net carbon in use; a marked reduction from the 3.7 tonnes of CO² emitted per annum by the average UK home.

Newland Homes has worked with local landowners, including the St James Trust charity, to bring the Upper Studley site forward for development in Trowbridge. St James Trust provides grants to groups or organisations which help people in need, hardship or distress in Trowbridge and nearby villages. In 1994, a developer offered to buy land owned by the trust and the eventual sale of this land resulted in a substantial sum being available for investment in grants, and this recent sale to Newland Homes will help continue the charity’s good work.

In Semington, Wiltshire Council also unanimously approved Newland Homes’ proposals for 17 zero carbon homes adjacent to its existing development in the village. These new homes form a modest but logical extension to the St George’s Mead development, which has proven extremely popular with buyers looking to reduce energy costs whilst making a valuable contribution to the environment.

Tom Sheppard, Planning Director for Newland Homes, comments:

“Our commitment to delivering zero carbon homes has fundamentally changed the way we design and build our homes.  We have embraced new renewable technologies and our homebuyers have embraced this new, more sustainable way of life, which makes a valuable contribution to the environment.  We’re pleased to be able to continue delivering these pioneering homes across the South West.”

It is estimated that construction work will commence at Upper Studley in Trowbridge and at St George’s Mead in Semington in Autumn 2023.