Glenvale Park in Wellingborough, UK, is a new neighbourhood being built with social value at its core.

Supported by funding from Homes England, a range of market-leading national developers have been enlisted to deliver the new neighbourhood. Six housebuilders have also been given responsibility to develop an area of the new neighbourhood to create a vibrant and high-quality development that meets the needs of a diverse community.

One of which is social housing provider Stonewater. Infrastructure, construction and property services giant United Living New Homes is delivering the 148 mixed-tenure homes and apartments that feature within Stonewater’s dedicated area. These will comprise of two, three and four bedroom houses, and one and two bedroom flats, worth £23 million in total[1].

Seventy-four of the new properties on this site will be available for social and affordable rent. There will also be 35 new homes available for shared ownership and 39 offered through the Rent to Buy scheme¹.

Cutting edge homes

The homes needed a source of heating and hot water that would meet residents needs and comply with the amended Part L building regulations that cover the conservation of fuel and power. Samsung Climate Solutions air source heat pumps were selected to achieve this, specifically the Samsung EHS Monobloc R32 Heat Pumps, both 5kW and 8kW.

Rhys Bevan, Environmental Sustainability Business Partner (Development) at Stonewater, said: “Since April of 2021 Stonewater has been committed to ensuring that all new Land and Build schemes were only approved if developed to an off-gas standard[2]. Air Source Heat Pumps offer a reliable and cost-effective way for us to manage this transition to off-gas² as they are easy to integrate into designs and are easy for our customers to operate.

“Additionally, by building to these off-gas² standards now, we reduce the need for retrofitting off-gas² systems in the future, meaning the lifetime costs of these homes is reduced by building for the future now.”

Samsung heat pumps form part of a wider picture to achieve Stonewater’s ambitious commitments. As well as air-source heat pumps, the development will also incorporate electric vehicle (EV) charging points at designated plots across the site.

Installing the heat pumps

Building services contractor, Briggs & Forrester Living was hired to install electrical and plumbing services to the properties, including the heating systems. Graham Brooks, its Housing Director, stated: “Samsung’s heat pumps stood out during this project because they had a compact and light design which made them quick and easy for installation. This also makes them ideal for built up areas and critical in a project of this scale where time is of the essence.

“This was one of the first projects we have worked on since the amendments to Part L. Working with new technologies does come with nuances. The Samsung team were always quick to respond to our queries and came to the site to offer training and technical support.”

Supporting the supply chain

This is a large site with multiple projects being delivered at the same time which means sticking to tight timeframes is critical. For all parties involved, having a reliable supplier that could help achieve this was essential.

Geoff Bown, Project Manager at United Living, said: “In a project of this scale, reliability is number one on the priority list. We need to know that suppliers can meet supply demands and timeframes, that they are available for any support we require and that ultimately, once we fit the products the residents will live in homes with reliable heating systems. With Samsung, we found this.

“Samsung’s air source heat pumps have multiple benefits for residents, including that they can. connect to Samsung’s SmartThings app[3]. Once connected residents can use the app to control the connected devices and monitor their energy usage. There will be a learning curve for new residents, but training will be provided to them, so we have peace of mind that Samsung’s heat pumps will meet their needs and help us deliver comfortable homes.”

Maximising the benefits for residents

Training is critical to maximise the benefits for residents, as Rhys Bevan continued: “We recognise that these off-gas² solutions are new to many of our customers and as such we provide support and advice around how to make the most efficient use of their home and heating system.

“Samsung has been helpful with the educational aspect to Stonewater and our customers, providing in-person training as well as online overviews for different team members.”

Sunny Vashisht, Business Development Manager at Samsung Climate Solutions said: “Our heat pumps have been critical to delivering comfortable homes to the new residents at Glenvale Park. While we have designed our heat pumps with both the installer and the end-user in mind, for residents to feel the true benefits, training is vital. This means installations need to be made effectively and residents need to know how to use their heat pump.

“Training continues to be a core priority for us, having recently launched our new training centre in Manchester, which complements our existing facility in Chertsey. These opportunities for installers to learn are critical and it has been great to see that Stonewater, United Living and Briggs & Forrester have recognised this too and invested in ensuring that each person has the resources they need to do the job effectively. So, when residents do move in, they will quickly get used to the new systems in their home and feel comfortable living there.”

The bigger picture

Once complete, Stonewater’s homes will form part of the wider development consisting of 3,000 new homes, of which 675 will be affordable housing.

The new community will also have access to a range of amenities including a 25,000 sqm business park, a local centre with retail, food and drink venues, two primary schools and a nursery, as well as a community hub and over 200 acres of parkland. The new neighbourhood will be well connected, serviced by an excellent road network, the train station only a five minute drive away and five airports, including Heathrow and Birmingham within a 70 mile radius.

As well as great amenities and transport links, social value has been at the heart of this project. The developers have calculated the positive impact the site will have on the community. For every pound spent during construction, the development will generate £2.03 of social value for the local community, due to total more than £1.6bn once it has been built.

On top of this, 900 jobs and apprenticeships have been created during the construction. After completion, it is anticipated Glenvale Park will create 3,000 new jobs and result in a total economic impact of almost £1.5bn[4].

[1] Source: https://unitedliving.co.uk/case-studies/glenvale-park-wellingborough/

[2] Off-gas refers to using heating systems such as air source heat pumps that operate using electricity instead of natural gas directly. Notwithstanding that depending on your electricity provider, electricity used to operate the heat pump can be derived from gas.

[3] Disclaimer: Wi-Fi connection and Samsung SmartThings application account are required. Wi-Fi Kit to be ordered separately. Requires iOS 10.0 or later & Android 5.0 or later.

[4] Source: https://glenvalepark.co.uk/social-value/#:~:text=Glenvale%20Park%20will%20deliver%20a%20number%20of%20new,more%20than%20%C2%A31.6bn%20once%20it%20has%20been%20built.

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Charles Mcalpine, climate solutions expert and Managing Director EU of HiiLIFE, a bespoke technology provider for the construction sector, explains what home heating systems property developers should install to maximise efficiency.

As energy costs and environmental concerns continue to rise, housebuilders find themselves at the forefront of increasing our energy efficiency. One of the most impactful ways housebuilders and architects can contribute to a sustainable future is by integrating advanced heat pump systems and smart control technologies into their properties.

These solutions not only reduce energy consumption, but also offer residents a more comfortable living experience. With the cost of energy showing no sign of slowing down, it is crucial for residential developments to acknowledge the importance of incorporating these systems. Charles Mcalpine, climate solutions expert and Managing Director EU of HiiLIFE explains more:

“The heat pump has been a game-changing solution for energy-efficient heating and cooling. Unlike traditional boilers, heat pumps work by transferring energy in the form of heat from one place to another. Heat pumps are more efficient than traditional heating systems because they use electricity to pump refrigerant around a circuit instead of burning fuels, such as gas, to heat water.

There are two main types of heat pumps: air-source and ground-source. An air-source heat pump transfers energy from the outside air into the home, even in colder temperatures. In contrast, groundsource heat pumps transfer energy between the ground and a building. Ground-source offer developers energy efficiency and more consistent bills due to the stable ground temperatures they transfer energy from, but installation costs can be high. I’d say air-source pumps are the most cost-effective option for many properties. While ground-source pumps offer a higher level of energy efficiency, the installation requirements are not suitable for all properties and these also come at significant expense.

Installing heat pumps in property developments offer both developers and potential buyers a variety of benefits. Compared to traditional heating systems, heat pumps produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to a more sustainable development while also helping developers meet increasingly strict environmental regulations. Energy-efficient properties are becoming increasingly attractive to buyers and renters, who are mindful of energy costs and the environment.

While heat pumps offer energy efficiency, integrating smart control systems in developments can increase these benefits even further. Smart thermostats allow for precise temperature control, ensuring that heat is only delivered when and where it is needed. Many systems are equipped with algorithms that can adapt to household behaviours, automatically adjusting heating schedules for when residents are typically home or away. For property developers, these advantages can translate to residents benefiting from the long-term value of lower energy bills. It also demonstrates to environmentally conscious buyers how the properties in question are prepared for the future.

Smart home systems also offer remote access control, allowing residents to adjust heating elements while away via mobile applications. Not only does this offer convenience, it also enhances energy efficiency by allowing users to manage their property’s energy use anywhere, anytime. Smart home systems can also provide energy usage insights, allowing people to see data relating to their energy expenditure. These insights often lead to better decision-making, encouraging more energy-conscious behaviours. For developers, providing homes with smart systems can enhance a property’s value by offering buyers the tools and data to make their home more sustainable and cost-effective.

Perhaps the most standout feature of smart heating systems is zoning capability. Zoning allows residents to heat different areas of a home independently so one can consider the usage, location, and occupancy of each space. Integrating this innovative feature into the build offers a competitive edge in the market, thanks to the attractiveness of personalisation options and increased efficiency as less energy is wasted on heating the entire home.

In summary, future-proofing home heating systems with heat pumps and smart home controls has a whole host of commercial benefits for property developers. Not only do they align with modern sustainability trends and home designs, they also reduce energy waste and lower utility costs for buyers and residents. In today’s competitive market where sustainability and long-term value is a priority for consumers, energy efficient properties are increasingly attractive investments. Housebuilders who embrace and implement these innovations will be well-positioned to meet demand and stand out to buyers and residents in the increasingly crowded property landscape.”

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