The Willowbury, West Malling

In response to the climate emergency, Retirement Villages Group has identified a key project development objective which is to adopt a sustainable pathway to realising net-zero carbon and to deliver a high quality and sustainable environment that enhances the wellbeing of residents and their quality of life. As part of this sustainable approach, the project team adopted some key principles of PassivHaus and certification under the Fitwel assessment scheme.

This project includes 132 designed apartments across 4 4-storey villa blocks, there was also 2 additional blocks of 2 storey house/cottages situated in landscaped green spaces and pathways.

There is a mix of 1-bed and 2-bed apartments along with community spaces which includes a restaurant & bar, health & welfare facilities, a fitness room and other social spaces.

TGA|BP’s appointment included undertaking building dynamic thermal analysis, using IES Virtual Environment Software, approved Document L compliance checking and overheating assessments under CIBSE TM52 and TM59 methodologies.

The self-contained village is set within a nature reserve, with stringent requirements surrounding light pollution, dark-sky principles and spill lighting. The public realm lighting design provides zero upward lighting and minimises light spill, with zero light cast towards the green belt, while maintaining a sense of safety and security for residents and visitors. The local bat population was also a key consideration, with warm-white fixtures and the removal of UV light sources incorporated to comply with planning requirements.