Wembley ‘zero-carbon’ vicarage scores record-breaking marks for its green credentials

St John’s Church wows judges at the BRE Environmental Assessment Method awards

The country’s first carbon zero vicarage which was built in Wembley has scored the highest ever marks for its green credentials.

St John’s Church, which is in the High Road, scooped top marks under the Code for Sustainable Homes at this year’s BREEAM Awards (BRE Environmental Assessment Method).

Opened last April, the vicarage makes use of environmental features including roof-top solar panels, a ground source heat pump, and a rainwater harvesting system that services both the toilets and laundry areas.

It was built using sustainable materials and was granted the Code’s highest sustainability rating and received an overall record-breaking score of 93.38 per cent.

The building is part of a development which scored more than 90 per cent and includes a church hall and affordable housing.

Reverend Francis Adu-Boachie, vicar of St John’s, said: “This award is wonderful news and it is good to see our Diocese taking the lead in the provision of sustainable houses for Londoners.

“Apart from its aesthetic beauty which blends in well with the Grade II listed church, it has been constructed to provide such a fantastic living experience. With minimum loss of heat and a very good ventilation system, an ideal condition is constantly created for us to enjoy. “The vicarage has been constructed in such a way as to encourage one to think positively about their impact on the environment.”