Boggle Hole Youth Hostel, North Yorkshire

Project team: ;  LEDA MEP engineering.

A stunning watermill situated in an old smugglers’ cove on Robin Hood’s Bay, Boggle Hole Youth Hostel recently underwent a £1.2 million renovation. The project included the construction of a new 44-bed accommodation annexe, and refurbishment of the café, accommodation, classrooms and office space.

We looked at all options to provide an energy strategy for this scheme. The remote location presented some difficulties – access to the hostel is by foot or Land Rover (involving crossing the beach), so practical difficulties over fuel delivery ruled out the use of a biomass boiler. In the 19th century when the mill was first built it used the stream for power, so the flow rate was assessed but found to be too low for a useful hydro-electric scheme.

Energy efficiency and low carbon heat for renovation of historic water mill

Instead, we developed an energy efficient lighting scheme with the architects to use minimal energy, and by providing detailed analysis we helped them to achieve a highly insulated building. Our energy efficient services strategy with air-source heat pump to provide underfloor heating, combined with a 10kW photovoltaic array, was successful in reducing maintenance costs and energy bills.

Technical Data

Client:	YHA
Services Provided:	MEP design
Dates:	September 2013 – September 2014
Contract Value:	£800k (approximate)
Technologies and Unique Features:	Lean Design, heat pump, PV, highly insulated, bespoke lighting, low energy