Blue Quarter at Maidstone is the flagship development in Kier Homes’ new carbon management programme. At the forefront of the move towards entirely sustainable living, the apartments at Blue Quarter have been designed and built to minimise their impact on the environment whilst still delivering the highest quality of design and comfort found in all Kier new homes.
The new show homes at Blue Quarter have been designed in conjunction with the CarbonNeutral company to provide a blueprint for greener living. At every stage of the development Kier has taken every care to reduce carbon dioxide emissions associated with building Blue Quarter. Throughout the apartments homeowners will find energy efficient lighting installed in every room and the company has gone to great lengths to select furnishing and fittings that minimise the impact on the environment. Sales manager Anne Gillespie explains:
“The stylish wallpaper we used is printed on FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified paper using trees from sustainable sources. No heavy metals or formaldehydes are used in the production of this paper.
“All the lounge furniture uses wood sourced from non-tropical, sustainable sources from suppliers checked to ensure the quality of their processes, materials and their commitment to the rights of workers.
“The upholstery fabric is made from 100% wool, one of the most renewable materials possible. Some of the lounge cushions are even made from nettles, which we all know are found growing plentifully in the wild. As with wool, fabric made from nettles is naturally fire retardant, thus eliminating the need for any chemicals usually required for upholstery.
“The bedroom makes extensive use of natural bamboo. From an environmental viewpoint bamboo is a great resource as it can be used to produce a wide range of high quality materials and grows incredibly quickly. The products used in the new show homes range from bedside tables and a chest of drawers, said to be more durable than oak, to a soft bed-throw, which feels very similar to velvet and yet is made of 100% bamboo.
“In the second bedroom the apartments offer wardrobes and two bedsides that are made of FSC certified cardboard, which is of course 100% fully recyclable at the end of its life-cycle, designed by award-winning young British designer Giles Miller. Giles has already produced bespoke pieces for clients such as Stella McCartney.
“Finally, all the fabrics and materials used in the home are natural and non-synthetic such as pure cotton, linen and silk. Sheer curtains are used in the Lounge and Bedroom 2 to allow as much light as possible through the windows, reducing the need for artificial light.”
The launch of the apartments is the final piece of the greener living jigsaw at Blue Quarter. Throughout its design and construction the development has had the carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) associated with the construction phase measured and unavoidable emissions have been balanced out through investing in community based projects which reduce the equivalent amount of CO2
Kier has also committed to offset the carbon cost of the first year of occupancy for all new home owners at Blue Quarter, estimated to be 1.3 t/co² per apartment.
Blue Quarter is situated just off Hart Street on the bank of the River Medway in the heart of Maidstone. In addition to providing a uniquely greener lifestyle, the apartments are perfectly placed for commuting with a fast and frequent rail service in to London’s Victoria station and convenient access to the nearby M20. Ashford International with its direct rail link to Europe is less than 20 minutes away and Gatwick Airport is just a 40 mile drive.
Anyone wanting to visit the new show homes or seeking any further information should contact the Kier Homes team on
01622 673007.