This retrofit scheme is designed to focus not just on energy efficiency, but also to take account of supply and transport infrastructures, the creation of natural outdoor space, cost-efficient forms of construction, and local economics and social aspects. It follows the philosophy and planning direction as noted in Environmentally sustainable housing: standards and innovation, that planning is seen not just in the context of building, but in conjunction with community and urban development and in response to ecological, social and economic criteria.

Topics including energy efficiency, mobility, use of environmentally friendly building materials and their ecologically acceptable supply and disposal, natural landscaping and spatial design, and space-saving construction are encompassed in the retrofit proposal.

The 81-87 Shakespeare Street scheme is participating as part of the phase 3 Southwick masterplan development, which follows the key aim of bringing back a sense of community pride and creating a safer, greener and cleaner neighbourhood environment for local community. New facilities include: sustainable modes of transport such as cycling and walking; improved public realm and open space, eg, the 'green lung' that runs across the site and the primary school, and the 'green street', Shakespeare Street; and improved health, education and community facilities.

»Concept
The intention is to create an open, adaptable, flexible and inspiring dwelling for twenty first century living, and to incorporate inclusive design for changing lifestyle needs. The architect's proposal includes 87 Shakespeare Street, which is understood to be under private occupation. A phased retrofit is proposed.

Each dwelling has two bedrooms with balcony and outside space. The proposed layout to 81-87 Shakespeare Street is designed in accordance with Building Regulations, NHBC, Housing Corporation design and quality standards, and is in line with the Lifetime Homes standards. External funding sources are sought, such as National Affordable Housing Programme (NAHP) and The Big Lottery Fund for core measures; and funders such as CERT as well as utility suppliers that operate 'green tariffs' for the micro-renewables. External elevational treatments are innovative and yet match surrounding developments and so blend harmoniously in their overall context.

»Sustainability
The scheme is designed to achieve level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes and includes the following measures:

• Roof insulation (83 and 85 Shakespeare Street) U value 0.11W/m2K
• Cavity wall insulation, eg, 65 mm filled with blown mineral fibre, in addition to external insulation render system as used in Gentoo's high-rise tower to achieve U value 0.11W/m2K
• Partial walls/roof (81 and 87 Shakespeare Street) Kingspan TEK structurally insulated panels (SIPS) U value 0.1 W/m2K
• Floor insulation
• Windows U value 0.7W/m2K (including timber frame with trickle ventilation, triple glazed and gas filled)
• Air permeability of 1.3m3/h/m2 at 50 Pa
• Thermal bridging maximum 4.5% of surface area
• U value for external doors 1W/m2K
• Cladding of sweet chestnut from managed coppice
• Low energy light fittings/bulbs (internal/external). External 27 watt compact fluorescent lamps; circulation areas with PIR
• New kitchen/bathrooms
• SEDBUK rating condensing boilers 'A' rated with heating system controls meeting XB criteria
• Programmable room heating thermostat
• Energy labeled A++ white goods
• Mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR), 88% efficient heat recovery MVHR with specific fan power 0.92w/l/s (Kingspan KAR)
• All timber products from FSC or PEFC sources
• External hard landscaping from recycled or sustainable sources
• Natural rubber flooring with 50% recycled content.

»Micro-renewable energy technologies include:

• Communal pellet biomass system, to integrate with the major regeneration scheme, ie, Phase 3 Southwick development, if possible
• Heat pump. Additional auxiliary heating, eg, small immersion heater in the cylinder, for the ground source heat pump to lift the temperature of the domestic hot water to 60oC to avoid Legionnaires' disease
• Solar photovoltaics (PV). Installing PV panels on south, west and east facing roofs, tilted at an angle of between 30-40 degrees. Installing hot water storage cylinder that can be used with combination boiler by adding a tank to store hot water before the boiler as a preheat
• Wind catcher. Wind from any direction is caught by louvres using the natural stack effect with additional assistance for cool air to drop into the house displacing the warm air 'turbo-charging' the stack effect. This is also a light stack.

»Water
Grey water and rain water are recycled, with rainwater harvested for washing machine and irrigation. Other measures include:

»Waste
Refurbishment waste is recycled using BRE's SMART waste system, monitoring waste including timber, brick/block, tiles, glass ceramics, metal and ceramic sanitaryware. Recycling also needs to take into consideration disposal of appliances, eg fridges/freezers. Bio-degradable kitchen waste is disposed of in a garden compost bin or wormery. Community composting/private collection allows compost to be used in green spaces throughout the community.

• Low water shower (6litres/minute), taps (2litres/minute), dual flush toilet (3/6litres), 160 litre
• Low water use bath (Duravit/Hansgrohe)
• Mixer taps. Safe and efficient single lever mixer, aerating and spray mechanisms, volume restrictors/flow regulators, automatic shut-off
• Retrofit water meters to encourage responsible behaviour
• Water labeled A++ washing white goods (Miele)

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