Hartford Homes are committed to minimising their impact on the environment and have been for many years. They acknowledge that new homes and employment premises need to be built, though there is no reason why development cannot take place in a sustainable manner that is beneficial for wildlife. Hartford Homes is family owned and all members of the family and senior management are island residents who feel strongly about ensuring the environment is protected for future generations.
Hartford Homes have created new habitat areas for ecology to flourish and promoted energy-use reduction in their homes, exceeding regulations for key areas such as energy efficiency and helping toward the mitigation of climate change. Hartford Homes have committed to bringing their ‘sustainable housing’ plans forward to exceed regulations and increase their re-wilding and micro forest plantation plans. The company are building new energy efficient homes and commercial properties on land which Government has assessed to be sustainable. All new homes:
· Will be fitted with Air source heat pumps as standard by 2024
· Will be fitted with PV panels to generate green electricity by 2027
· Have energy efficient Class A rated light fittings and kitchen appliances
· Have built in bicycle storage and are ready for electric bike charge points to encourage adoption of Active Travel
· Are ready for Electric Vehicle charging points to be fitted
· Will transition to Air Source and Solar power so natural gas will no longer be consumed
· Incorporate the latest water saving appliances, including eco-flow showers and variable flush toilets.
· Include sectional waste bins in fitted kitchens to encourage home owners to recycle household waste.
Hartford Homes are motivated to avoid waste and enable the use of ex demolition materials frequently. When designing sites, they try to work to existing land levels to avoid transporting excavated materials off site. They aim to use on-island consultants where possible, which avoids the need for travel and benefits the islands economy. They have developed a charter to build on their sustainable approach and achieve ecological net gain to ensure their result will be one of overall benefit and growth and will actively promote their Charter to ensure they maintain standards and encourage others. Some aspects of the Ecology Charter include:
· All new developments to create a nett increase in ecological biodiversity
· Working with MWT and DEFA ensuring minimal impact/improved ecology using native trees, bushes and wildflowers
· Consideration for creation of new Public Open Spaces, ensuring they provide ecological benefit as well as amenity
· Working with Isle of Play to create unique natural play areas and engage future generations with wildlife
· Closely monitoring technology/production methods to utilise locally sourced, sustainable materials and components
Hartford Homes will not forget about wildlife and work with Manx Wildlife Trust to include bat boxes, bee bricks, hedgehog runs, native trees, micro forests, and wildflowers in their developments, which will link to re-wilding and hedgerow creation.
Hartford Homes contribute to our cultural heritage through restoration work of buildings, and they worked with the Isle of Man Government Conservation Officer at the ‘Royal Building’ site in Onchan, where the existing building was retained, refurbished and put back to use. Hartford Homes submitted detailed planning applications for the Bay Queen site in Port St Mary and proposals were supported by the planners, the Commissioners and Rushen Heritage Trust to ensure replica towers are created to retain the overall sense of place that the Bay Queen created, rather than being demolished and entirely redesigned due to the poor condition of the building. The heritage history of the site is reflected in the design of the new building.
They recently worked with Manx National Heritage to bring archaeologists to the Island and carry out excavations on a proposed site. The subsequent findings have been documented and will form part of the knowledge base for the Island, and MNH have subsequently agreed that the land can be developed, subject to further detailed archaeology excavations.
Hartford Homes are equally passionate about supporting local and community initiatives that positively impact the island and its people. Though not exhaustive, they provide sponsorship to: Isle of Play, Port Erin Festival of the Sea, Silverburn Art Trail, Local Schools, Castletown FC, Anaphylaxis Campaign, Manx Breast Cancer Support Group, Ramsey Forest tree planting and Isle of Man Badminton Squad.
Visit https://hartford.im/news for full details of community involvement.
