PHS

0800 Repair has installed a ground source heat pump to provide heat for a former cattle barn, in County Durham, which has been converted into a “Grand Designs forever home”.

After recommendations from local farmers who have embarked on similar projects, engineer Paul Mathison approached the North East-based company to install a ground source heat pump to heat his home.

0800 Repair forms part of PHS, one of the UK’s leading home services firms, which is also headquartered in the North East.

Jason Oakes, Sales Director of PHS group, and his team were subsequently commissioned by Paul, who purchased the barn through lockdown, to design and install the commercial ground source heating system to heat the ground floor and upper floor of the conversion.

Working in close collaboration with Paul, 0800 Repair engineers supervised and advised on the open trench system, which accommodates the heat absorption pipework across the 14-acre site and is more environmentally sustainable.

The innovative pump provides energy by extracting heat from the ground and is then transported through a plant room, also designed and installed by 0800 Repair, before being distributed around the site through the pipework.

The pump will provide enough energy to heat the barn, in Medomsley, which consists of six bedrooms and seven bathrooms across two floors.

From housing cattle to a modern Grand Designs-worthy build, Paul purchased the steel-framed agricultural barn, which was constructed 18 years ago and comes with 14 acres of land, during the Covid-19 lockdown.

The project did have key challenges, which were overcome, such as gaining the particularly stringent Class Q planning permission to convert an agricultural building into a ‘dwellinghouse’.

Paul Mathison, the owner of the property and civil engineer, said: “As someone who is not mechanically minded, I needed someone to effectively hold my hand through the process. As soon as I approached Jason, he put me at ease and was incredibly supportive – it felt natural, particularly given that Jason was also embarking on a similar project so we could compare notes.

“His team were also incredibly flexible, and nothing was too much trouble.

“The actual pipework is like a work of art and should be in an art gallery! The care and attention in installing the pipes are second to none and illustrates that the team take pride in their work.”

Jason said: “Paul brought us in to advise him on this particularly bespoke project so that he can heat his home in a more environmentally friendly and sustainable way.

“Conversion projects present the perfect opportunity to bring a building back to life but also utilise contemporary, low-carbon solutions.

“Paul has also asked us to advise him on the next phase of the project, which will be to install solar panels to power the electric for the heat pumps and ensure the barn will eventually be off-grid.”

ENDS

NEWS RELEASE: ISSUED ON BEHALF OF PHS

For further information contact Jamie Collis 01325 363436

Photo caption 1: left to right – Jason Oakes and Paul Mathison

Photo caption 2: left to right – Jason Oakes and Paul Mathison