Passivhaus development in Colchester

TUGC has just completed the installation of plug planted green roofs across three blocks of quality passivhaus dwellings in Colchester, Essex. Providing 23 new homes, a mixture of one and two bed flats and 17 houses.

 

Passivhaus development in Colchester

Preparing the green roofs for green roofs for  installation.

We installed 800 sq.m. of green space running across the three buildings. Including an 80-120 mm build-up of substrate and 10,000 plug plants to offer broad biodiversity, as well as helping to provide sustainable drainage (SuDs).

 

Green roof base layers are being set out.

The Jerram Falkus construction includes the refurbishment of a listed Mill. This will become a shared space for social, domestic activities, and community events. The design team is led by Anne Thorne, an award winning eco-architect.

 

Passivhaus development in Colchester

Substrate installed and the roof is ready for planting.

The buildings are designed and built to Passivhaus standards to achieve exceptionally low running costs, sustainable comfort and health.

 

Passivhaus development in Colchester

Some of the 10,000 plug plants sitting waiting to be planted to complete the job.

 

Balham gains benefits of green roof

The TUGC boys have been working through all weathers to complete a 180 sq.m. green roof in Balham, South West London this summer.

The sedum roof is situated on a new social housing block. This will help attenuate water in an area of constant development in London.

Balham gains benefits of green roof

Substrate awaiting sedum

The green roof sits on a Bauder roof which was installed by Happe Roofing. The roof sits alongside solar panels on a new social housing apartment block.

 

Avoid green roof remedial work

Part of our summer work has been spent carrying out green roof remedial works on two large unmaintained roofs. One a 2,000 sq.m. roof on a school in Anglesey. The other being a lovely, 300 sq.m. sloping roof on a church in Reigate. Both needed replacement sedum across areas of the roof and a heavy dose of organic fertiliser to give them a chance of recovery. We also installed an irrigation system on the Reigate church to help the sedum cope with the gradient of the roof.

Avoid green roof remedial work  Avoid green roof remedial work

Repairing Large green roof Anglesey

Access was an issue at both sites with no design consideration for roof maintenance, but use of scaffolding towers helped reduce the pain, although seagulls’ nesting at Anglesey created a challenge!

Both sites provide a clear example of the need for regular maintenance and show how much this helps green roofs fulfil the purpose of sustainable urban drainage (suds) and biodiversity and extra biodiverse habitats in urban environments as well as ensuring they provide a point of beauty for locals.