By KLTV Newsdesk – 

Recycled materials transformed into a new community space for local volunteers

A research team from the University of Huddersfield has helped create an innovative new shelter for community gardening groups using recycled construction materials that would otherwise have gone to waste.

Members of the University’s Sustainable Living Research Centre partnered with Mirfield-based modular building company Actiform and environmental charity Natural Kirklees to deliver the project at a community garden on Peace Pit Lane, near Leeds Road and the canal in Deighton, on council-owned land on the outskirts of Huddersfield.

The shelter was constructed primarily from surplus materials donated by Actiform, including wooden pallets, sawn timber frames and composite panels that would otherwise have been discarded during the manufacturing process.

Providing a home for community volunteers

The new structure has been designed to support the many volunteer groups that care for green spaces across Kirklees by providing protection from the elements.

“Groups that are part of Natural Kirklees work on many, mainly council-owned, sites around the area. However, some sites have no shelter, and there is nowhere to go when it rains, which is one of the reasons that they can struggle to attract more volunteers,” said Dr Yun Gao, Professional Lead in Architecture and the Built Environment and Director of Sustainable Living Research Centre.

“We have been working with Natural Kirklees for around two years, and from six sites in the area, we identified this one at Peace Pits Lane as it is a great place to try this prototype structure.

“This is because of the important work growing groups are doing and the ability to unite members from other groups, such as Support to Recovery and Community Platform, together with the Kirklees Community Growing Group, who now manage the site.

“Actiform are local, and we were very happy when they came on board. They provided all the construction materials and also worked over the weekend to build the shelter for the community.

“This project is a great example of how a range of partners can be brought together for a cause that benefits everyone.

“Recycling and reusing material is a huge issue in the construction industry right now, and this project demonstrates how that can be done with a quick win that saves carbon as well.

“The structure can be dismantled and rebuilt on a different site, and recycles materials including wooden pallets, sawn timber frame and composite panels.”

Watch the shelter take shape

Research highlights major carbon savings

Alongside creating a practical community asset, the project has also delivered valuable research into sustainable construction.

Using Whole Lifecycle Assessment, researchers from the Sustainable Living Research Centre evaluated the environmental impact of building the pavilion using recycled materials.

The study found that whole-life carbon emissions could be reduced by as much as 73 per cent compared with constructing an equivalent pavilion using entirely new materials.

The findings demonstrate how integrated design and industrial material reuse can significantly reduce the embodied carbon of buildings throughout their lifecycle.

Dr Gao added: “The project has been beneficial for our research centre, as we have compiled a database to record what waste materials can be reused, rather than discarded.

“We are in discussions over constructing some more buildings along these lines, which would be great because there so many volunteers working on the green spaces locally that would benefit from somewhere to shelter from everything that climate in Kirklees can throw at them.”

Community celebrates new shelter

The completed shelter was officially launched during a community event at the Peace Pit site, attended by volunteers from local growing groups and the Mayor of Kirklees, Karen Allison.

The Mayor praised the collaboration between all of the organisations involved in bringing the project to life.

The celebration also featured a specially written song performed by Dr Manas Murthy, accompanied by musician Tom Taylor.

The song reflected the importance of the new shelter to the community, including the line: “Covid hit us really hard, lost so many members…This is our sanctuary, our home away from home.”

Collaborative research project

The project was led by Dr Yun Gao and Professor Nic Clear, alongside researchers Dr Manas Murthy, Dr Nwakaego Onyenokporo, Dr Tamiris Capellaro Ferreira and Hemen Galal, demonstrating how collaboration between academia, industry and the voluntary sector can create practical, sustainable solutions that benefit local communities.