Newlands ZED

Newlands Farm, Aborfield, Reading

This site consists of the ruins of a Victorian Manor House with substantial garages and stables, home farm and buildings, a lodge and three cottages. The old residence was damaged by fire in 1972 sits in approximately 62.4 acres.

This provides us with the exciting opportunity to rethink the way a farm estate can fully utilize the land and also achieve a high quality of life. At the same time, we will reduce the environmental impact by reducing its dependence on fossil fuel.

In the tradition of English country house estates, Newlands will be a homogenous development, similar to what would have been in place on the site previously, but, with net Zero fossil energy consumption.

The residence will be a family estate to be occupied by a large family, with accommodation and facilities on site for the staff required to run this estate efficiently.

We aim to harvest all the energy requirements from renewable sources, the sun, wind and carefully managed woodland will provide electrical energy, heat and hot water for the residents.

Water will be collected for people and livestock alike, and in turn daily products and/or meat products will be produced. Manure from the cattle and horses will be used to feed the vegetable garden and green houses that will be large enough to feed all the inhabitants of the estate. Rapeseed will be grown on the farm land and the oild will be useful for food as well as fuel.

As part of the complete vision, we would like to develop a direct food link between the farm and the local community via web based ordering.