Press Release - Carpenters Yard Launch

Carpenters Yard, Epping Forest: ‘Design-led homes that won’t cost the earth’ 

gs8 announces the launch of flagship scheme - UK’s largest zero bills development  

 27 June 2025, London, UK - gs8, the multi award-winning UK housebuilder specialising in planet positive neighbourhoods, announces the launch of  scheme, Carpenters Yard in the village of Thornwood, Epping Forest. 

The collection of 113 design-led two, three and four bedroom homes redefine regenerative living. Built on tree-lined streets, interwoven with green spaces and with natural features including a trail garden, large pond and direct access to Thornwood Common. Family-friendly amenities include landscaped children’s play areas, with a pedestrianised play street and natural play areas in a forest garden. With Epping Forest on its doorstep, Carpenters Yard is cloaked in nature but within close commuting distance of London.

Carpenters Yard will be the UK’s largest Zero Bills community - guaranteeing residents zero energy bills for at least 5 years. This is enabled through a fully renewable community microgrid, in partnership with Octopus Energy*. The development is being built in line with gs8’s ‘Planet Positive Framework’, adhering to zero waste principles, which means all usable material is repurposed, with no skips used on site. Integrated photovoltaic panels produce more energy than the homes use annually, with the homes also storing more carbon in their materials and landscapes than they create over their lifetime.

Nigel Banks, ‘Zero Bills’ Director at Octopus Energy says: “Carpenters Yard is more than a new neighbourhood – it’s a blueprint for sustainable living. Together with forward-thinking housebuilders like gs8, we’re making ‘Zero Bills’ the standard for a greener, more affordable future.”

Embedding a strong focus on community living, Carpenters Yard features a wealth of shared spaces, including allotments, a fitness centre, a new community hub, local grocery with a community cafe, communal DIY and reuse centre, an electric bike scheme offered in partnership with Volt and electric car club vehicles offered in partnership with Nissan.

From individually designed, bespoke handcrafted kitchen cabinets with surfaces by Compac, made of 100% recycled glass and designed to resemble quartz to bathroom feature walls and furniture by Smile Plastics, which uses 100% recycled plastic, and are both beautiful and hard-wearing; each home tells a story and provides a space our residents can be proud of. The homes also come with dedicated space for home working, generous loft and hallway storage and utility rooms.

Carpenters Yard is suited to all demographics including first-time buyers, young couples, young families, established families and those looking to downsize with the benefit of energy security. The independent shops and cafes of Epping High Street are just a few minutes away from Carpenters Yard. When it comes to transport links, the Central Line runs through Epping Station, with trains taking just 37 minutes to Liverpool Street and 44 minutes to Canary Wharf. 

 Harry Anthony, Knight Frank London New Homes: “There's much anticipation in the market for a development like this. Energy efficiency is high on the tick list for those looking for a new home, and Carpenters Yard truly delivers as the pinnacle of sustainability and energy efficient homes. With features like integrated solar panels and energy efficient design, this development reflects the future of residential living – particularly in terms of sustainability, specification and buyers' expectations.

The careful design and thought that has gone into making Carpenters Yard creates an opportunity for buyers to be part of a unique development, with the scheme sitting firmly in line with where the industry is heading. This makes it not just a home purchase, but a smart investment opportunity as buyers look ahead to the future of their homes and the increasing value placed on sustainable living. From the yoga deck and dipping pond to the DIY store for all to use, this development meets the growing demands for homes that are both environmentally conscious and cost effective to run. Carpenters Yard offers something genuinely special that will retain its appeal and value for years to come”

 Josh Gordon, Co-Founder of gs8 says: “Creating special sustainable homes to live in is at the heart of what we do at gs8. Every single aspect of Carpenters Yard has been carefully designed to support healthy and happy lifestyles connected to nature. We set out to build homes that meet the needs of all demographics, provide modern living and are future-proofed. It has been a privilege to work closely alongside the local community, enterprising businesses, Epping Forest District Council and Essex County Council to bring this incredible development to fruition, and we’re looking forward to welcoming the first residents later this year.”

Two-bedroom houses in Carpenters Yard start from £550,000, with four-bedroom houses starting at £850,000. The scheme also features two and three-bedroom apartments, starting at £550,000. The development is to welcome its first completions from Q4 2025, with the marketing suite which is now pen and the show home due to open its doors in September 2025.

Notes to Editors

*Introduced in 2022, Octopus Energy’s ‘Zero Bills’ tariff enables customers to move into homes that are fully kitted out with state-of-the-art green tech – including a heat pump, a battery and solar panels – with no energy bills guaranteed for 5 to 10 years. The tariff does not include EV charging costs, which are billed separately.

About gs8

gs8 is an award-winning UK residential developer and contractor specialising in planet positive homes and neighbourhoods. Since 2014, the company has delivered over 1,000 homes across London and the South East, with a live pipeline of close to 2,000 units. gs8 works in close partnership with local communities to shape every scheme – ensuring new homes contribute positively to the wider neighbourhood. That’s why their developments include community gardens, DIY re-use centres, edible landscaping, and residents’ community spaces that foster connection and self-sufficiency. gs8 was named the RIBA London Sustainability Award winner in 2024, along with a further London and National Award for The Arbour and is the UK market leader in regenerative housing and sustainable development.

Media Enquiries
Anna Geffert, HERA Communication Strategies
Email: gs8@heracomms.com
Tel: +44 (0)7773 046 337

About Octopus Energy Group

Octopus Energy is a global clean energy tech business, driving the affordable, green energy system of the future. Under its own retail brand, Octopus delivers world-class customer service and cutting edge energy products to 9 million households globally. Its operations span 27 countries and the entire energy value chain. The group invests in, builds and flexibly manages renewable energy, operating a £7 billion portfolio of projects.

Octopus has licenced its advanced data and machine learning platform, Kraken, to support over 60 million accounts worldwide through licensing deals with companies such as EDF, EON and Origin Energy. Kraken enables Octopus to drive the electrification of heat and transport through smart tariffs and innovative cleantech. Backed by pension funds, investors and energy giants, Octopus Energy Group businesses deliver cheaper, greener energy and cutting-edge tech to countries and customers worldwide.

For more information, check out our website.

Octopus Energy Group

press@octoenergy.com

+44 (0)20 4530 8369

Zero Bills & Contacts

zerobills@octopus.energy