A disused brick cattle shed on a wildlife research farm at Loddington in Leicestershire that has been converted into one of the most environmentally friendly buildings in the country has just scooped the prestigious 2012 Property and Construction Award for sustainable development.
Owned by leading research charity, the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), the new visitor and training centre on the GWCT’s Allerton Project farm has been converted using materials sourced from the fields of its farm. Straw was used for the walls; sheep fleece for insulation, wood chips from the estate fuels the biomass boiler and rainwater is harvested and used for toilets and showers. In addition sixteen solar photovoltaic panels on the roof generate electricity, with excess sold onto the grid and barn owl boxes and bat boxes strategically positioned in the roof ensure that wildlife also thrive from this new eco-building. To complete this award winning project, the car park and fencing materials are constructed from recycled silage plastics.
The GWCT’s Allerton Project research farm is one of the most wildlife friendly farms in the country, and has an enviable track record of demonstrating how wildlife and modern commercial farming can co-exist for the benefit of both.
Dr Alastair Leake, Director of Policy with the GWCT said, “Increasing interest in our research has meant that we are now hosting a large number of training sessions for farmers and policy makers on environmental issues as well as organising local community events. Our previous visitor centre could not cope with this growing demand. In keeping with our ecological approach to land management we sought to design a building which was constructed using ‘green’ materials, whilst still offering state-of-the-art technology – a requirement of any modern business.”
At the start of the project Dr Leake was assisted by the charity Pro-Help who helped secure pro bono expert help with drawing up plans and obtaining planning consent. A 60 per cent grant towards the construction of the £405,000 building was then obtained through the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE).
The challenge of creating such an innovative design was given to architect Sylvester Cheung, from Parkinson, Dodson & Cheung. A delighted Sylvester Cheung, who entered the project for the ProCon Award, explains the challenges of the build, “The GWCT’s Allerton Project was certainly a challenge. However, there was valuable knowledge gained throughout. This was an educational vision which resulted in an inspiring architectural project, embracing professional and community involvement to sourcing of materials – all showing that investment in our countryside need not be neglected and sustainable rural developments are achievable.”