ANSAS COMPETITION 2006

The premise
The Cornwall Sustainable Building Trust wishes to stimulate novel and sustainable solutions to the shortage of homes affordable to first time buyers.

As a result, the challenge issued by the ANSAS  (A Novel Sustainable Affordable Solution) Competition is to design novel, sustainable and affordable homes to full planning and building  regulation standards (not yet submitted, as this will be part of the winner’s package). The winning submission will be built at the chosen site with the full support of CSBT.

The Judges

• Professor Michael Wigginton
Head of University of Plymouth School of Architecture

• Jim Price
SWRDA Head of Professional Services

• David Wheeler
The Housing Corporation

• Mark Jones
CCC Chief Planning Officer

• Dr Jan Pentreath
Chair, JNCC ‘Natura 2000’ Group

• Thelma Sorensen
Chairman of Cornwall & IOS Economic Forum

• A local resident (TBC)
Representing a potential owner/tenant

The successful design should go some way to providing guidance on an acceptable new vernacular style for Cornwall. CSBT intend to produce a documentary film charting the entire process, from evaluation of submissions through to completion of building work, for use as an educational or training resource and possible subsequent development into a broadcast television programme.

The assesment criteria

N o v e l t y
40% of marks will be awarded for innovation, which could be in any justified form, e.g. materials, natural systems, micro-climates, novel partnering/ownership arrangements, creativity etc.

S u s t a i n a b i l i t y
40% of marks for sustainability - the winning entry should achieve a BRE EcoHomes ‘excellent’ rating, (CSBT can advise). Ideally homes should be Carbon Neutral, waste minimal and water efficient and enhance biodiversity . However it is for entrants to decide to what extent they achieve this within the parameters of affordability.

A f f o r d a b i l i t y
10% of marks for designs that can be built to achieve a unit cost that is mortgageable to purchasers with the average Cornish wage (more specific guidance to follow). This is a competition pre-requisite and the principal of affordability should include running and maintenance costs.

P a n e l  D i s c r e t i o n
Final 10% of marks will be at the discretion of the judging panel, based on their feelings of the design’s appropriateness and fit to the site and to the Cornish context.

T h e  s i t e
The chosen site consists of approximately half an acre of Caradon District Council owned land, adjacent to existing local authority housing, on the edge of the village of Landrake, which is bypassed by the A38.

The site is to the north of this major transport route and presents many of the challenges and opportunities of small sites adjoining rural settlements.

A land survey has been completed by Nationwide Surveys. An Ecological survey will be completed and donated to competitors by Cornwall Environmental Consultants, the consultancy of the Cornwall Wildlife Trust.

S p o n s o r ’ s  n o t e
Stephens & Scown are pleased to have been instrumental in the formation of the Cornwall Sustainable Building Trust and to be sponsors of the CSBT/ANSAS competition.

Michael Beadel, Partner in the Property Department and member of the Management Board at Stephens & Scown says “Stephens & Scown have been involved with the construction industry and residential housing development in the South West for many years, and hope that the competition will have a positive effect on the provision of affordable housing in the County.”

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