PROJECT: CROSS LANES SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT

P&S Coverdale

We were appointed by Peter Coverdale to prepare M&E performance duties for a new sustainable and ethical building / product building near Barnard Castle. The 1,300m² unit is predominantly retail on the ground floor with shop space to sell local sustainably grown produce including meat, vegetable and fruit. There is also a cafe and restaurant with a good perspective and outlook over the fells and local merchandise for sale.

The building structure itself comprises a steel framed structure with straw bale and external block and stone wall and a sedum sloping roof sloping to the south. This is perfect for both mid season heating, enhancing fenestration and also for the solar panels.

The building services comprised air to water source heat pumps interlocked with underfloor heating and a mixed mode ventilation strategy. We modelled the building for SBem compliance and the natural ventilation strategy.

This must be the largest UK resident straw bale building at present and we are very proud to have been involved throughout this interesting project.

The facility will slowly develop and expand to accommodate ancillary buildings to offer specific historical building techniques such as dry stone walling etc. All taught by Mr Coverdale.

"Parsec have recently provided a comprehensive performance specification for a £1.5M sustainability project in Teesdale, and have brought an effective and professional approach to all aspects of the M&E proposals. Their extensive knowledge base and proactive approach have provided practical solutions, enabling us to achieve a cost effective specification."

Paul Freeman Architectural & Project Management