Eco-living on home turf (From The Oxford Times)

Eco-living on home turf

2:04pm Thursday 17th May 2012 in Featured Properties By Gill Oliver

Plenty of properties have greenery in the back garden but not many have it on the roof.

A new development in St Clements is topped with plants called sedum which have a number of eco-friendly qualities. The plants, which look like moss, are grown on a blanket and harvested like turf before being installed by rolling out on top of a plastic membrane.

Oxford-based Blue Sky Sustainable Developments says the green roof promotes biodiversity and the natural colonisation of local plants.

Other benefits include storm water management, improved air quality, photosynthesis, reduced carbon footprint, lower construction costs, increased life expectancy and noise reduction. The St Clement’s Mews development in Cherwell Street includes three two-bedroom and two one-bedroom houses.

Some are for sale and others are available to let, with two-bedroom properties priced at £315,000 and the one-bedroom homes at £250,000.

Rental fees are £1,200 for two and £950 for one bedroom houses. The homes, on the site of an old warehouse, took nine months to develop and have high-spec insulation to reduce environmental impact and carbon footprint. Other higlights include underfloor heating, solid-oak doors, patio and landscaped garden and energy-efficient LED lighting.

Tim Jackson-Waite, of joint agents North Oxford Property Sales and Professional Lettings, said: “The use of space is a triumph of architectural and design excellence. The green roof has its own irrigation system which can be turned on or off and is great for butterflies.”

Joint agents are North Oxford Property Sales and Professional Lettings on 01865 318538 or visit northoxfordproperty.co.uk and Thomas Merrifield on