Design standards

Our design standards

We do not build large scale developments that overpower the local landscape, preferring instead to build small developments that meet the needs of the rural communities in Cumbria. Our area is part of the Lake District National Park so we have built a strong relationship with local authorities at all levels and create designs that are as sympathetic as the costs allow.

We use local Architects, Surveyors, builders and contractors to keep the work in the area. We also find out from local people, the type of designs needed by the people who are going to live in these affordable homes in the future.

There are a set of standards laid out by the Homes and Communities Agency and the Housing Quality Indicators they set – like the code for sustainable homes which includes: Guidelines on energy efficiencies, use of sustainable green materials, waste and recycling, water usage and security.

From our years of experience in building rural affordable homes we have learned a great deal about what is necessary and what is not – this helps refine our designs for subsequent new schemes.

We specialise in build homes in rural communities and often reuse buildings that are no longer in use, be they barns, old schools or churches.

Looking to the future, we are working towards Government targets of lowering carbon production in the build of new homes and hope to be close to the zero carbon targets that the Government set for 2016.