
The BRE innovation park at Ravenscriag, Motherwell, has been created to showcase and drive the very best in low carbon building technologies and technique to an audience in Scotland and beyond. Two recent awards and a major opportunity in China show that this ambition is being realised.
Tigh Grian, developer of the Resource Efficient House at BRE’s Innovation Park at Ravenscraig, was awarded the prize for Best Private House at last week’s Timber in Construction Awards. This comes hot on the heels of the house winning the sustainable building of the year prize at the Sustainable Ireland awards back in September. The home, pictured right was created for Zero Waste Scotland by architects Machin Associates, and is designed and built to minimise waste during construction, use recycled materials where possible, and to be affordable to build and run. The Resource Efficient Home was officially opened by Scottish Environment Secretary, Richard Lochhead on 19 September. Following their exposure at the BRE Innovation Park , Tigh Grian has now secured contracts for 68 similar homes.
Commenting on the awards, David Kelly, BRE Associate Director of Construction Innovation said:
“The drive and ambition of these companies to develop new housing solutions demonstrates that innovation does pay dividends. Their engagement with BRE and their involvement in the InnovationPark has provided them with the confidence and platform to grow their commercial operations. They should be congratulated and commended for embracing innovation and delivering this into the housing market.”
Scotland’s First Minister was in attendance at the Beijing Green Building Park two weeks ago where, following its successful demonstration on the park at Ravenscraig, Applegreen Homes are to start the construction of a show home in China.