Search About Taylor Wimpey Search
Back to About Taylor Wimpey Home
A distinctive regeneration project
We bought this brownfield site in 2007 following the relocation of the University of East London from Barking to London Docklands. The scheme is being delivered in partnership with London & Quadrant Housing Trust. For delivery of the private homes we have formed a Joint Venture, however for the affordable homes we sold the necessary land to London & Quadrant and will build the homes for them.
During the planning process we held several public consultation events, including a public exhibition that was held over a number of days, at which local people were given the opportunity to comment on the planning application using a specially designed questionnaire. We also held monthly planning meetings with the London Borough of Barking and the scheme was a major planning application referable to the Mayor of London. A planning application was submitted in December 2006, with amendments submitted in September 2007. The Planning Committee granted approval in April 2008 and the Section 106 Agreement was signed in February 2009.
Overall the scheme has a distinctive contemporary design and incorporates seven character areas. The prominence of the site influenced both the design and the materials we have used. The development has also been designed to increase biodiversity and 936 properties (inclusive of apartments) will have green roofs consisting of local species of vegetation and incorporating bat boxes, insect tubes, and hibernation mounds.
Academy Central is being built to meet the Code for Sustainable Homes level 3. To reduce the carbon footprint of the development a district heating system has been installed to serve all 1,054 homes and a 620 pupil school. The energy centre contains a biomass boiler, a Combined Heat & Power engine, and back-up gas boilers. Improvements to the fabric of the homes, such as improved air tightness and insulation, contribute to the overall carbon reduction at Academy Central and minimise the consumption of energy within the homes. Overall the energy efficiency measures deliver a carbon reduction of 41.5% against 2009 building regulations. The construction also makes use of various sustainable and recycled materials. For example, all timber products are certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC), recycled glass is used in the block paving base, roof waterproofing product is made from recycled car tyres, and blocks contain pulverised fuel ash.