Legal & General’s later living business Inspired Villages has begun construction of the UK’s first net-zero retirement community - the £120m Millfield Green scheme in Caddington, Bedfordshire.
Net zero means the amount of carbon emitted through the use of controlled systems, on an annual basis, is zero or negative. Carbon can be offset by the contribution of on-site renewable energy generation.
Millfield Green will use renewable energy generation through on-site solar PV, electric vehicle charging, improved building fabric and insultation, and mechanical heat vent recovery units.
The scheme will also incorporate ground-source heat pumps supplied by Kensa Group - a business Legal & General took a significant stake in last year.
Legal & General said the operationally net-zero retirement village will have a positive long-term impact on running costs, which will be unaffected by external suppliers’ future cost rises.
The development follows Legal & General’s 2020 commitment to make all its residential accommodation operationally net-zero by 2030.
Millfield Green will provide 200 specialist age-appropriate homes over four phases. Construction will be carried out by Willmott Dixon.
The scheme will feature a restaurant, café, wellness centre - including swimming pool, fitness studio and gym - library and cinema room. In keeping with Inspired Villages’ ethos of creating communities in and around its villages, many of these facilities will be available to both residents and the local community.
“Our retirement community model focuses on holistic wellness, encouraging this in older people by providing suitable, safe, secure and stimulating environments, helping them live good, healthy, independent lives for longer,” said Inspired Villages chief executive Jamie Bunce.
“Environmental considerations are the next stage of this evolution,” he added.
