Q New Homes opens Hartdene Barns – a collection of some of the most sustainable properties in Britain

The sustainable property development company Q New Homes is announcing the unveiling of Hartdene Barns, one of the most eco-conscious housing projects in Britain.

Hartdene Barns consists of nine luxury properties within a private, gated community and is located on a former dairy farm in Cowden in Kent – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the High Weald.

Q New Homes is the first and only new housebuilder in the UK that has met the targets set out by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Climate Challenge. Unlike more widely adopted frameworks like Passive House, which focus primarily on energy efficiency, RIBA Climate Challenge pushes the boundaries by assessing the entire environmental impact of a building, from its construction through to its full lifespan. Fewer than 10% of RIBA-chartered practices have joined the RIBA CC due to its complexity and of those 10% there are currently no live projects committed to meeting the targets. Instead, they are focused on encouraging developers and clients to take on the challenge.

As Hartdene Barns is the first development in the UK to meet these targets, it could be considered the greenest set of homes in the country. From using low-carbon concrete, to selecting wood and porcelain floors instead of carpet, every detail has been carefully assessed for sustainability.

Q New Homes partnered with RIBA-award-winning architects Nissen Richards Studio to help meet the strict criteria to reduce operational energy, embodied carbon and water consumption in the properties. The highest SAP report rating recorded at Hartdene Barns was 114. This means that they are above the standard range used to generate an EPC certificate.

The properties are designed to achieve advanced sustainability benchmarks, and whole life carbon assessors have concluded they are at least 10 to 15 years ahead of typical UK new builds.

“Hartdene Barns are amongst the most sustainable and energy efficient homes in the entire UK” – Brandon Wipperfurth, energy consultant and whole life carbon assessor

Architecture and Interior

The homes have a modern agricultural aesthetic with charred timber and locally sourced stock bricks, complemented by jet black standing seam zinc roofing.

The interiors feature vaulted ceilings, natural finishes, and large windows to maximise light and emphasise the connection to nature.

The homes use structurally insulated panels (SIPs) that work by filling the walls with recycled foam that prevents air leakage and keeps the properties warm, reducing embodied carbon by 40% compared to traditional construction. Key eco-technology features include air-source heat pumps, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR), and photovoltaic solar panels, ensuring the properties remain energy efficient with almost zero running costs.

The show home on site is fully-furnished with a keen attention to detail given to the furniture used to ensure they fit the sustainability standards set by the rest of the property. Interior design consultants from Q New Homes are able to advise new residents how they can furnish their home with reclaimed, recycled or upcycled pieces.

Even the V-ZUG appliances used in the kitchens are made to carbon-neutral standards and are energy efficient for users. They are the only carbon-neutral appliance company in the UK.

Gardening and Biodiversity

In addition to the gardens offered with each property, residents also get their own allocated on-site allotment for sustainable food production. The allotments are managed and provided by Roots Allotments, representing their first partnership with a property developer. They are committed to providing organic, no-dig, chemical-free spaces for growing fruits and vegetables – an ethos shared by Q New Homes.

Hartdene Barns also integrates biodiversity, with wildlife-supportive landscaping such as wildflower meadows, native hedgerows, and specialist planters for small mammals, birds, and insects. There are owleries located at the pond next to the allotments which attract different species of owls to act as a natural pesticide for your vegetable gardens.

Pricing

Hartdene Barns fits into the prime residential market, with prices starting from £1.25million for a three-bedroom terraced property and moving up to £2.5million for a four-bedroom link detached barn. Homes at Hartdene Barns are sold and marketed by the agent Move Revolution and you can find a link to the sales pack here.

Comments and Testimonials

Damien Wynne, Co-Founder of Q New Homes, comments:

“Hartdene Barns is our most ambitious project to date and we are proud to have created a collection of homes that are both sustainable and aesthetically pleasing. We believe that this combination is what will help stimulate the green revolution and push more developers and architects towards environmentally-conscious designs. The dwellings all have their own special architectural moments that set them apart from the norm and demonstrate our attention to detail.

Michael Wynne, Co-Founder of Q New Homes, adds:

“It took a lot of time and careful planning to make sure we were ticking the green boxes throughout the construction of Hartdene Barns. To us, sustainability does not lie solely with the energy sources, which is already seeing some progress around the country. Sustainable materials, the appliances used in the interiors and the promotion of biodiversity are just as important to creating a green home. These homes will give residents a slice of luxury in the heart of the Kent countryside, while giving them the peace of mind that they are in keeping with the natural environment.”

Ed Morrison, Founder of Roots Allotments, comments: 

“Our partnership with Hartdene Barns is the first property development that we have partnered with and we are excited to see how the new residents will interact with their allotments. We know that people have an interest in growing sustainably and enjoying organic produce at their tables.

“These no-dig allotments ensure that Hartdene Barns is not only promoting biodiversity in the surroundings, but also offering all of the associated wellbeing benefits of gardening to the new residents. People can choose what fruit and vegetables they would like to see coming through the door and we’ll set up their allotment to provide them. The addition of the owl nests also promotes owls to come to the allotments to act as a natural pest control. On top of this we are working to create other areas that will enhance biodiversity and create new habitats such as native hedgerow, wildflowers and insect hotels. We are looking forward to working with the owners of these beautiful homes to help them get set up for success in the 2025 growing season.”

Jim Richards, Director of the architects Nissen Richards Studio, comments:

“This has very much been a design-led development, and it’s been a huge pleasure to work on. Creating distinctive forms and silhouettes, meeting challenging sustainability targets, while providing generous and inspiring internal spaces has been a delicate high-wire act. The final buildings are now all we hoped for. They have a sense of place and a notable link to the past, but the modern incarnations of these former agricultural buildings are also built to the highest specification and provide luxury and low-carbon homes. Sustainability on this project meant using high levels of insulation, structural insulated panels, glulam beams, and low-carbon concrete, alongside green technologies like air-source heat pumps and solar panels. The result is a development that blends eco-luxury with a deep connection to the site’s agricultural history.”