The National Trust for Jersey won the Jersey Electricity Sustainability Award 2016 for Les Cotils Farm at the Jersey Construction Council’s Annual Awards on Saturday. The five-bedroomed house, a mile north of St Helier, was refurbished by the National Trust between 2013 and 2015. Judges said Les Cotils Farm provided an excellent example of how to bring the past successfully into the 21st century.
National Treasure: Matt Dawson MBE, National Trust CEO Charles Alluto, Trust Properties Manager Ernie Le Brun and Jersey Electricity CEO Chris Ambler
The National Trust for Jersey won the Jersey Electricity Sustainability Award 2016 for Les Cotils Farm at the Jersey Construction Council’s Annual Awards Gala on Saturday. The five-bedroomed house, a mile north of St Helier, was refurbished by the National Trust between 2013 and 2015.
Internal works included, structural stiffening of the house’s timber floors; restoration of lime plaster lathe ceilings; new hot and cold water services; new damp proof courses, insulated dry lining wall surfaces, lime re-pointing to the granite walls; low energy lighting and sheep’s wool loft insulation.
External works included re-pointing in lime mortar; new timber guttering; the installation of a twin air-to-water heat pump system, timber window frames grey water recycling to provide water for toilet flushing and clothes washing, roof repairs and an underground foul and surface drainage system.
Construction Council judges said Les Cotils Farm provided an excellent example of how to bring the past successfully into the 21st century. By focusing on the sustainable retention of an historic building, the project maintained a building that had seen hundreds of years of activity whilst also providing it with more sustainable energy and water systems. The project was extensive in its use of materials salvaged from other building sites in the Island, reusing timber and stone that had become waste elsewhere.
Ultimately, the winning project had successfully given Jersey a fine example of an historic building that was now set to bring joy islanders for generations to come.
Jersey Electricity also sponsored guest speaker for the evening former England captain and 2003 Rugby Union World Cup winner Matt Dawson MBE who presented the award to National Trust CEO Charles Alluto. Charles said: ‘We are delighted to receive the award as this truly recognises the craftsmanship and resourcefulness of our Properties Team, as well as the expertise and advice of our architectural adviser, Bob Le Mottee. It is crucial that we repair and care for our properties in a sustainable way, which not only conserves the historic fabric but also minimises the environmental impact of our buildings in the future.'
After entertaining the 300 guests with stories from his rugby career, A Question of Sport, Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity MasterChef, Matt went on to auction a rugby shirt he had signed that eventually raised a staggering £3,500 for the Construction Council's Brick Foundation charity.
