Projects

Ashmere Phase 5 forms part of Ebbsfleet Garden City, a major regeneration scheme spanning 2,500 acres of former brownfield land that will provide up to 15,000 homes alongside extensive green infrastructure and community facilities. Located within the Eastern Quarry area, Ashmere Phase 5 will deliver 229 new homes, comprising apartments and two-, three- and four-bedroom houses.

To help meet the development's ambitious sustainability targets, the joint venture, Countryside Clarion (Eastern Quarry) LLP, appointed AES Sustainability to deliver a comprehensive range of sustainability consultancy services.

Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, who are delivering the Garden City, is targeting net-zero operational carbon by 2030 and has established an ambitious sustainability framework that developers must adhere to. To help achieve these targets, AES Sustainability provided undertake Whole Life Carbon Assessments, Circular Economy reporting, Energy and Sustainability Statements, SAP calculations, dynamic overheating analysis and Energy Use Intensity (EUI) modelling.

Working closely with the client and wider design team, AES developed a strategy that balanced ambitious environmental targets with practical deliverability. A key objective was to comply with Ebbsfleet's sustainability framework while avoiding significant changes to established house types and maintaining commercial viability.

Through detailed energy modelling and whole-life carbon assessments, the development is projected to achieve a 77.8% reduction in regulated carbon emissions compared with Part L 2021 Target Emission Rate requirements. It is also expected to deliver a 67.7% reduction in annual energy demand against current Building Regulations benchmarks, with all representative dwelling types achieving a space heating demand of 40 kWh/m² or below.

The project has achieved the Towards Net Zero Whole Life Carbon Ebbsfleet Development Corporation target of 800 kgCO₂e/m² (equivalent to the RIBA 2025 target), with outstanding results of 706 kgCO₂e/m² for apartments and 600 kgCO₂e/m² for houses. The project has also achieved several Towards Net Zero Circular Economy targets, with over 50% end-of-life reusability and over 10% of construction using offsite manufacturing.

“These achievements demonstrate significant progress towards the net-zero whole-life carbon and circular economy targets set by Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, surpassing the neighbouring GLA’s aspirational targets as well,” commented Venkatesh Kalidoss, Consultant at AES Sustainability.

"Ashmere Phase 5 demonstrates how whole-life carbon assessments and integrated sustainability strategies can help developers achieve ambitious environmental targets without compromising deliverability," commented Claire Stone, Consultant at AES Sustainability. "By working closely with Vistry and the wider project team from an early stage, we identified practical and cost-effective measures that significantly reduced carbon emissions and energy demand, helping to create homes that are fit for the future while meeting the exacting sustainability standards required at Ebbsfleet."

“Vistry is committed to building sustainable, future-proof homes and AES have been fundamental in ensuring we meet the sustainability requirements of the Local Planning Authority and National guidance, whilst maintaining a balance in line with Vistry's business needs.,” commented Anna Cox, Assistant Development Manager at Vistry.

The project highlights the growing importance of whole-life carbon assessments in residential development, enabling design teams to make informed decisions early in the design process and identify opportunities to reduce both embodied and operational carbon. By undertaking detailed carbon and energy analysis from the outset, AES ensured sustainability was embedded throughout the project rather than addressed solely as a planning compliance requirement.

As part of the wider vision for Ebbsfleet Garden City, Ashmere Phase 5 will contribute to the creation of a sustainable community founded on high-quality design, energy-efficient homes and long-term environmental performance. The development forms part of a nationally significant regeneration programme that is helping to set new benchmarks for sustainable placemaking and low-carbon living.