A former coalfield site in Bickershaw, Wigan, was named as one of two sites in the north of England to pioneer zero carbon homes as part of the Government’s response to climate change.

Under the Carbon Challenge, being run by national regeneration agency English Partnerships, Bickershaw Colliery will see around 650 homes which meet the most exacting standards on environmentally friendly development - Code for Sustainable Homes Level 6. The zero carbon community will be the first of its kind in the north of England and will be a major part of Bickershaw's transformation, complementing plans already in place for open spaces and leisure facilities in the site’s northern area. The Bickershaw Colliery site is owned by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), who will be delvering the Carbon Challenge for the project.


Jayne Lomas, English Partnerships' Project Manager for the Carbon Challenge, said: "This is an exciting opportunity for both Bickershaw and English Partnerships. Working alongside organisations such as the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) to create eco villages will help us all live greener lifestyles, without sacrificing a normal way of life. There are now four Carbon Challenge sites in England and we are pleased that this former colliery in Wigan will be part of this exciting project."

The Carbon Challenge is intended to accelerate the housebuilding industry’s response to climate change by fast-tracking the creation of zero carbon homes and communities, providing an opportunity for housebuilders to gain experience of building to the highest level of the government’s Code for Sustainable Homes.

As part of the Challenge, English Partnerships is calling on developers to demonstrate that zero carbon homes, combined with cutting-edge building design and technology, are economically viable on a commercial site.

Bickershaw Colliery is part of English Partnerships' National Coalfields Programme, and is owned by the NWDA. It is one of the first non-English Partnerships owned sites, along with Brodsworth Colliery in Doncaster, to be included in the Carbon Challenge.

(JM)