The previously contaminated brownfield site in Exeter was transformed into 92 residential units over two years. Its carbon footprint impact was reduced, Eutopia says, using modern and sustainable methods of construction. Following an independent carbon assessment report, the project achieved a rating of B on the LETI scale. This rating has allowed the project to benefit from the Ingenious Green Finance Framework and subsequent lower finance costs.
Ingenious Real Estate provided funding for the project using its Carbon Impact development loan programme. The facility offers borrowers rebates on debt funding costs when projects meet embodied carbon targets. The initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of lower-carbon construction practice across the UK residential sector.
Isca Gardens is one of the first developments completed using the funding. Construction Carbon, a consultancy that provides a centralised embodied carbon management platform for real estate developers and other professionals, completed a Whole Life Carbon Assessment at early design stage and at Practical Completion, assessing the project’s embodied carbon throughout the construction process. The assessment was carried out in accordance with RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment guidance and industry best practice.
Eutopia met targets set under the UK Net Zero Carbon Building Standard by having no basement floors, low carbon Vibro Stone foundations that replaced traditional concrete, and a lightweight, efficient steel frame and cladding with carbon efficient MEP services.
Tom Brown, managing director, real estate at Ingenious, said, “Isca Gardens demonstrates the success of what we set out to achieve when we launched our Carbon Impact development loan programme. By linking funding incentives to measurable carbon outcomes, we wanted to encourage developers to make lower-carbon choices without compromising the viability of their projects.
“The successful completion of Isca Gardens below its embodied carbon target is a significant milestone, showing how transparent carbon measurement and reporting can deliver meaningful environmental benefits alongside the delivery of much needed new UK housing. We look forward to supporting more developers as they seek to reduce embodied carbon and deliver the next generation of sustainable homes.”
Gilbert Lennox-King, CEO at Construction Carbon, said, “Isca Gardens is an excellent example of how carbon data can be embedded into the development process from the outset. Giving project teams visibility of embodied carbon throughout construction enables better decision-making and helps drive lower-emission outcomes. This project demonstrates how accurate carbon assessment, combined with financial incentives, can provide a practical route for developers to improve sustainability performance and reduce emissions across the built environment.”
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