Sussex Heritage Trust award - Lodsworth Larder

In 2010, the Trust named Lodsworth Larder as the Sussex Heritage Trust winner for a "new project which provides or improves facilities for the community".

The Sussex Trust awards began in 1998 and have brought to light many fine examples of conservation, preservation and rejuvenation projects across the county. 

The UK's first eco-friendly shop

Lodsworth Larder is the UK's first eco-friendly, community village shop. It opened its doors in 2009, after a major fund raising campaign by local residents. The building is a beautiful, oak-framed structure, with cedar roof tiles, situated at the heart of this picturesque village.

Local architect, Valerie Hinde, designed the building, and Ben Law built the shop with the help of local volunteers. (Ben Law and his woodland house featured on Channel 4's Grand Designs).   

Most of the main materials in the building, apart from the glass, have been sourced from within a 10-mile radius:

• the main oak frame, cladding and floorboards come from within Lodsworth parish; and 
• the cedar roof shingles from the Cowdray Estate, near Midhurst.

Lodsworth Larder's green credentials

• Photovoltaic tiles on the roof which generate electricity for the shop, with any surplus sold to the national grid. (A meter inside the shop displays the kilowatt savings).
• Heat reclamation from the fridges.
• Walls that are thickly insulated with sheep's wool.
• The use of low-energy lights and water recycling systems

These measures all reduce the running costs of the shop to levels below those of a traditional build.  Plus, of course, the sale of local produce and related savings in food miles and CO2 emissions.