Environmental Issues - Angell Town

Homes on Angell Town Estate are designed to a very high standard. They will be built to a high level of energy efficiency which will minimise fuel bills.

Background

The idea of sustainability had little weight when the estate was built in the early 1970s. Like many estates built at this time, the internal environment of the homes and the general security of residents had become increasingly problematic. A sustainable revival of the estate began 10 years ago when bridges connecting the blocks were demolished and underground garages were converted into commercial units, now managed by the Angell Town Community Project. Environmental issues have been tackled more recently.

The problems

Lack of insulation in walls, roof and floors resulted in a cold building most of the year, with some over-heating in summer. Badly fitted windows gave rise to draughts and cold bridging from concrete floor slabs led to condensation and mould growth. Inadequate heating and the use of paraffin heaters resulted in cold, damp homes and fuel poverty.

Environmental solutions

To reduce fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency by 50%include:

• Cellulose insulation in roofs.
• Insulated timber framed external cladding to solid walls.
• Cavity insulation.
• External insulated render for cold bridging.
• Low E double glazed timber frame windows.
• Intelligent condensing boilers respond to solar gain.
• Low energy light fittings.
• Passive stack ventilation - timber was from a sustainable source.

Holles House

40 dwellings for refurbishment.

Recycled newspaper insulation (Warmcel) was used as wall and roof insulation. Recycled insulation was preferred as it was the same price as comparable insulation. Warmcel recycled insulation is produced in the UK, other similar insulation is imported and more expensive. The Concrete roof tiles were not replaced - a form of passive re-using

Warwick House and Boatemah Walk

Warwick House: 29 dwellings for refurbishment.
Boatemah Walk: 18 dwellings new-build.

The 18 new homes in Angell Town, to the north of Brixton town centre will incorporate a highly energy efficient design as well as a solar roof, which will provide clean electricity to the building. Rainwater will also be collected from the roof and used for safe purposes such as watering the gardens and flushing WCs.

Award for Angell Town

Angell Town Estate was recognised by the Deputy Prime Ministers' Award for Sustainable Communities 2003 for it's sense of place, design, and for it's safe and healthy environment.

Local involvement in the project

• 20% of the development workers are from Lambeth
• 30% of the development workers are from black and ethnic minority communities
• 5% of the workers are women

Partnerships and grants for the project

The sustainable roof works are being funded by two grants - one from the Social, Economic and Environmental Development Programme and one from the Energy Saving Trust. To make this a truly exemplar project, Lambeth Housing, in partnership with the Angell Town Community Project and the other project partners are aiming to use as many sustainable and recycled materials as possible in the new homes and the project aims to use Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain of custody timber, which can be proven as coming from a sustainable source.