Phase 1 of this project comprised a complete refurbishment of a derelict Grade 2 Listed farmhouse building with its cartshed, a remote plantroom and office in adjacent farm buildings and the site infrastructure for future phases that would include a holiday let conversion, barn conversion and farm hand houses conversions plus the provision of an outdoor heated swimming pool and tennis court.
All buildings were deemed to be in the cartilage of a Listed Building for Planning purposes. The buildings would be used as domestic residences and management office
The client requested that the design be as “green” as possible but planning restrictions precluded mounting solar thermal of PV panels on roofs, and wind turbines. The high water table in the area meant that boreholing for ground source energy could cause problems with the Environmental Agency. A closed loop ground source heat pump system was decided upon using 6 x 50m “slinkey” pipes in trenches for the farmhouse ground floor and a slightly smaller array for the Phase 2 Holiday let. A Viessman BW220 heat pump was coupled with a 200 litre buffer vessel for the farmhouse ground floor underfloor heating system. Oil-fired boilers were provided to serve as back up and to provide heat to upper floor radiator circuits and hot water calorifiers. The heating system also provided heat to the swimming pool. A 5000 ltr oil tank was provided and connected to pumped ring main that could be tapped into for future phases.
The remoteness of the site meant that bringing a large water main to it would have been costly so a small supply was installed and a break tank and booster pump system provides good pressure for hot and cold water systems. Water softeners are provided on non-potable supplies.
