Burden Road

From the project’s inception, the council's building design department, led by architecture principal Mark Thomas, was clear about what they wanted the Burden Road project to achieve. Mark says: “We’re tasked with delivering a number of affordable social housing developments and are determined to build energy efficient homes that help tenants to minimise their energy bills over the long term”.

“We’ve had a relationship with Marley for over 15 years, and they’ve always been very responsive to our needs. With solar PV being an important aspect of the homes in Beverley, it was great to tap into the expertise of Marley’s technical team to support the project.”

Installing a full roof system, including solar panels

The East Riding of Yorkshire Council specified Marley’s full roof system with integrated solar PV, using Marley’s thin and high-performing Duo Edgemere tile in a Smooth Brown colourway. This created a sleek roofscape for all the houses, with the colour choice being a sympathetic match to neighbouring dwellings. The roof system also includes ridge, ventilation and dry verge systems, meaning the council could specify and procure from a single manufacturer, with the assurance that all components work perfectly together.

James Seawell, regional sales director for Marley, explains: “From our discussions with the council, it was clear the solution we provided had to deliver in a number of key areas. It needed to be cost-effective to maximise the available budget. It also needed to be right aesthetically to match the location while delivering energy efficiency benefits.”

When it came to the inclusion of Marley’s integrated 335Wp SolarTile® panels, Mark noted that this would also assist the council’s requirements and legislative responsibilities.

He says: “Due to legislative changes and the requirements of Part L of the Building Regulations, we have to ensure that the EPC rating of the houses we create is C or above. Installing solar PV as part of an integrated roofing system is a great way to achieve and help us better this requirement. The Marley team produced all the technical specifications to ensure the system met the solar power requirements for each house.”

“It is also important that access to renewable energy technologies, such as solar, means we can better support our tenants and help them tackle issues around fuel poverty in the future,” he adds.

Improving social housing with solar PV

East Riding of Yorkshire Council has an ambitious build programme. Following the successful completion of the Burden Road development, the council has determined that all new-build properties will include solar PV panels.

Managing so many building projects can be difficult for the council, as it involves specification, purchasing, arranging deliveries and ensuring installer availability. With Marley’s complete roofing system, James explains that this process can be simplified.

“By using Marley as a single-source supplier for the entire roofing system, the council benefits from having just one source of contact for the project. Marley provides everything from the battens up and arranges deliveries to suit the build schedule,” he explains.

The Marley technical team works closely with the council to further simplify the process. “We write the specification from the drawings they produce, and those are included in their tender packs when they go out to a main contractor,” James explains. “We offer technical help and commercial support through our distribution channels to ensure East Riding has cost-effective roofs that are fit for purpose,” he adds.

James also explains that Marley’s SolarTile® has been designed for easy installation, “We can work with installers to provide training when needed,” he says. “This helps to keep projects on track and ensures that the results meet all necessary standards.”

An ongoing partnership to build sustainable homes with solar PV

As the council looks to develop more affordable and sustainable housing for its local communities, the all-round merits of deploying a fully integrated roofing system, as seen in Beverley, are clear.

Mark concludes: “We have a high-performing roofing solution that ticks all the boxes. The Duo Edgemere tile looks great in its setting and is also cost-effective. The ability to easily integrate the solar PV panels as part of the final roof specification meant we had the benefit of a combined tile and solar panel solution that blended really well together”.

“Alongside the installation benefits of using the full Marley system, we have the confidence that the solution will continue to perform well into the future. This is because all the components are proven to work seamlessly together. We also have the backup of Marley’s 15-year guarantee. This provides further confidence for the council, as we continue to invest public money to create affordable, well-designed and energy-efficient homes for our tenants.”

To find out more about Marley’s complete roofing system and how the Marley SolarTile® can benefit social housing schemes across the country, please download our Solar Roof System Guide to integrated solar PV roofing systems or get in touch to discuss your project with a member of our team.