As one of the major housebuilders on the Isle of Wight, Captiva Homes is pledging to hit carbon net zero in two years.
Having built more than 400 homes in 13 projects since the Island company was founded — and with plans to build more — Captiva has unveiled ‘clear and definitive actions’ to be more environmentally responsible in the way it develops.
Iain Delaney, Captiva’s chief executive, said they want to set a new benchmark for sustainable house building on the Island — supporting the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, biosphere goals and rewilding — while accelerating housing delivery.
He said:
“The Island’s housing need means some green fields will have to be built on so how can we do the best to offset that and mitigate as best as possible?”
One key promise, he said, was to make every one of the homes they build the most energy efficient possible, certified at an ‘A’ rating – which will also lead to a reduction in energy bills for tenants.
Another is the desire to rewild or regreen more land than it builds.
Mr Delaney said it is a goal they are reaching towards achieving — having secured 57 hectares of land to regreen against 34 hectares of development land across three sites.
Its third goal, while not there yet, is the aspiration to be carbon neutral, fully offsetting its admissions on the Island.
Mr Delaney said they have used the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership’s sustainable business programme to verify their carbon footprint, which they are now in the process of offsetting.
Building a three-bed detached house using Captiva’s timber-framed construction, produces 60 tonnes of carbon, so 360 trees would need to be planted.
Captiva produced 2,180 tonnes of carbon last year and a predicted 3,680 tonnes this year, so the company would need to plant more than 35,000 trees.
Mr Delaney said:
“We don’t have the land to do that but we have started the process to facilitate the planting to become net zero.
“We would like to be net zero in two years time. We are not there yet but that is our goal.”
Tree planting started earlier this year and up to 3,500 trees will be planted around its latest development, Highwood Grove in Rookley.
Other environmental features have been added to its newest scheme including bat boxes built into the houses and hedgehog highways installed through the gardens.
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