An LPG solution from Calor has been selected by Larkfleet SW for its rural Churchinford Hills development near Taunton.
With mains gas not an option at its secluded rural development in the village of Churchinford in Somerset, Larkfleet SW Ltd, part of the Bourne-based Larkfleet Group, has opted for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from Calor.
The company uses mains gas for the majority of its sites, although this was not an option for its Churchinford Hills development, nine miles south of Taunton.
Set within the heart of the Blackdown Hills, an area of outstanding natural beauty, aesthetics were a prime consideration for Larkfleet when designing its exclusive Churchinford Hills development.
While interiors are sleek and contemporary, the houses are constructed of loose lay flint stone and a quarter of the homes on the development have been topped with traditional, hand laid thatched roofs. Larkfleet commissioned a local specialist approved by the Guild of Master Craftsmen to fashion the roofs from wheat reed that had been grown and harvested locally.
To maintain the tranquil countryside feel of the development, Calor installed two 4000-litre underground LPG tanks, buried out of sight of the 20 three- and four-bedroom homes.
Gas is distributed through a network of hidden pipes directly to each home, which each have individual meters that are read annually by Calor. This allows homeowners to be invoiced for their individual consumption, which means on completion of the development, Larkfleet will not need to be involved with its energy supply on an ongoing basis.
Shaune Hicks, Construction Director, Larkfleet noted: “In my experience, homeowners much prefer gas to electric, and they are reassured that LPG is an equally good alternative to mains gas. I must confess to having initial reservations about installing tanks as the ambience of the development is vital to the finished product, but it has been tastefully done and the tanks are very discreet. The sales rate has been great, and we are already 90 per cent sold.”
Churchinford Hills was recently judged ‘Best New Housing Development’ in the 2018 Somerset Building Excellence Awards.
Shaune Hicks continued: “We have given great consideration to modern living within this rural location by introducing large open interior space, modern bathrooms and kitchens with LPG heating, but with exteriors that retain village charm. We are giving our buyers the best of both worlds and it is gratifying to receive external endorsement of our approach.”
