We want to create a new way of living at Langarth. This means designing a sustainable new community that is adaptable, resilient and fit for future living.
As a first step to achieving our ambition we are finalising our plans to create a new type of energy centre at Langarth Garden Village.
The plans for the new energy centre are due to be formally submitted to Cornwall Council’s planning department later in the year.
Leading the way …
In what would be an exciting first for the UK, our renewable power energy centre will play a key role in delivering Cornwall Council’s ambitious climate change strategy at the same time as providing low cost green power for residents.
We plan to generate around 17,500 kilowatts of green energy a year at Langarth at the same time as achieving net zero carbon within 10 years.
By ensuring a greater use of renewable energy created and used on site, and increasing capacity to support the future use of electric vehicles, the new energy centre will play a key role in helping Langarth, and the Council, to move away from carbon dependency.
Developing the energy centre
Located next to the park and ride, the centre will include a transformer compound to house the electricity substation together with a bespoke battery storage area which will provide storage for green energy produced on the site for residents. Both buildings will be surrounded by planted green walls
In keeping with the project’s green Garden Village ethos, wild flowers will be planted around the buildings to enhance bio diversity and provide a variety of natural landscape features, as well as a number of new trees and a new Cornish hedge.
We are looking to create something exemplary at Langarth. Planning for and delivering this infrastructure at the start of the project will also make it easier to incorporate renewable energy into the new community as it grows.
Providing low carbon homes
Heat pump technology and solar panels will be used to power and heat homes, offices and other buildings, with electric charging points provided in every house and higher levels of insulation.
The project team are also investigating the possibility of providing solar panels on car ports on the proposed park and ride extension, as well as on other buildings and offices across the site, and exploring the potential of district heating using geothermal energy as a renewable source of heat.
Together these measures will deliver low carbon homes with low running costs for residents as well generating an income from the sale of surplus power back to the grid.
Keeping people informed
The development will also include information boards and educational opportunities to help describe the role it plays and help people understand how future communities will be powered.
A new pedestrian footpath will connect the existing quiet lane to the park and ride and there will also be a viewing platform looking north over the energy centre, and descriptive maps of the garden village.
