Sustainability built in

Being responsible, sustainable and ethical to leave a better environment for future generations is something we are passionate about at National Star. That’s why sustainability has played a key role in the development of our new specialist student accommodation at Ullenwood, due to be completed by summer 2023.

Our measures include:

Mitigating the impact of the high heating requirements for our residents by using a sustainable design for the buildings that’s highly energy efficient.
Building natural ventilation into the rooms, helping with cooling when seasonally required.
Mounting PV and solar panels onto the roofs to generate electricity and hot water.
Using green roofs to collect rainwater.
Using the college’s existing district heating system, which is powered by a biomass boiler.
Building large overhangs onto the roofs to mitigate excessive solar gain.
Harvesting rainwater for irrigation of the area around the accommodation.

Wildlife and biodiversity

Trees are important for people, wildlife and the environment, and we plan to increase biodiversity at Ullenwood by more than 10% with additional tree and hedge planting. We will also build a beautiful sensory garden and landscaped gardens.
Sensitive lighting will help protect the brown long-eared bats and myotis bats that are either roosting on the site or like to visit us.
Small gaps will be left at the base of all fences, walls and boundaries to allow hedgehogs safe passage across site when they need it. We’re proud to be a Hedgehog Friendly campus!
Two bird nesting boxes will be installed on mature trees near the paddock.