Leeds-based consulting engineers JSM Designs Ltd has played a key role in the highly commended design of a new ecological housing scheme in Huddersfield.

The £6m project, funded by the Housing Corporation, for Yorkshire Community Housing Association, and designed in conjunction with Cartwright Pickard Architects, comprises a four storey, circular, block of apartments together with two long terraces of housing at Ridge Close & Primrose Hill, Huddersfield.

Yorkshire Housing and Kirklees Council were determined the new development would be an ecologically sustainable solution worthy of high rating by the Eco Homes standard, an assessment adopted by the government to rate environmental qualities of new and renovated dwellings.

Consequently, the design and specification was carried out in such a way as to maximise the number of Eco points whilst maintaining the low maintenance costs essential to high quality social housing developments.

The unusual structural design of the building is due to the circular walkway and the sloping of the site. Tenants will eventually reach their residences via a bespoke pre-cast concrete and steel external walkway.

In addition to the structural design work, JSM was also commissioned by Wates to ‘Design and Detail’ a new drainage system for the site in accordance with the Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS) policy guidance.

SUDS required that the scheme be able to deliver a 50% reduction in surface water running off the development, achieved through the use of surface water balancing tanks. Further Eco points were gained by the re-use of stone from the original buildings on the site to face many retaining walls.

Jimm Reed, development project manager for Yorkshire Housing said: “This is an ambitious and demanding project and I am delighted at how the design team has responded to the challenges of the brief and the difficulties of the site.

“The final product will be a scheme which is truly sustainable and will demonstrate that we can build homes in a more responsible, sustainable way and provide better, more energy efficient places for people to live.”


Work is due for completion in spring/summer 2006, and the scheme is expected to be awarded a ‘Very Good’ and ‘Excellent’ Eco Homes rating by BRE.

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