Zero carbon development for Brighton goes ahead
A unique eco-friendly community is set to be built in Brighton after being given the green light by city planners. The first One Planet Living community will be built in the city on land between New England Road, the Clarendon Centre and Fleet Street using the latest environmentally-friendly techniques.
The zero-carbon development, being pioneered by the Worldwide Fund for Nature and international sustainability organisation Bioregional, will feature multi-storey apartment blocks, wind turbines and eco-friendly heating.
Chairman of Brighton & Hove Council's planning committee, councillor Les Hamilton, said: 'This is a very special development and I'm very proud that Brighton and Hove is part of this global project and not only that, but we will have the very first One Planet Living community in the world. It will put our city on the international environmental map.’
Bioregional will work with developer Crest Nicholson on the project. The company has agreed to invest ?290,000 in recreation, education, transport and public art. Work is due to begin before the end of the year.
What is the Brighton 'One Planet Living' Community?
The Brighton One Planet Living Community will form part of the New England Quarter (Blocks E & F) adjacent to the mainline train station in the south coast city of Brighton and Hove. The proposed development will offer residential accommodation (private and social housing and new 'eco-studios'), community space, new public open space and commercial areas. Through the design, specification and long term management the aim is to make sustainable high quality living easy, affordable and attractive.
The proposed development will offer:
The buildings will be constructed to reduce energy demands and achieve high levels of thermal efficiency. There will be a 'zero carbon strategy' which will include on-site renewable energy generation. A boiler using recycled wood chips will provide hot water and space heating and eight roof-mounted wind turbines will contribute towards the electricity demands. Electricity brought to the site will be from guaranteed new capacity renewable sources.
All homes will achieve an EcoHomes 'Excellent' rating and likewise, the offices will be designed to achieve Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method 'Excellent' rating.
There will be courtyards at different levels providing new high quality public open space and the development will contribute to the creation of the new 'Greenway' which will run through the New England Quarter. The Greenway will have dedicated space for pedestrians and cyclists, and will provide a new direct link to Brighton Station. One of the courtyards will be directly outside the major new Community Building and will offer opportunities for community events and public performances.
The site is well served by public transport and has very good access to a range of everyday services and amenities. Car and cycle clubs will make it easy for residents to live without a personal car and will be available to the wider community. The development is proposed as essentially 'car free' with only 12 parking spaces provided, 8 of which are for disabled use, with 4 allocated for a car club. An additional car parking space for the car club is proposed on the other side of New England Street outside New England House. In addition, a significant amount of secure cycle parking spaces will be created for all residents and visitors to the development, with a proportion allocated for a cycle club.
There will be opportunities for on-site food growing within a tight urban site through innovative building design, with facilities and initiatives to encourage the consumption of local and seasonal produce. Mini-allotments have been incorporated on part of the roof.
Recycling and composting will be encouraged through the provision of on-site segregation and composting facilities. This will be supplemented with guidance to residents from a Green Caretaker who will support the ongoing sustainable management of the development.
The development will be constructed using materials which offer high performance in use, but with reduced impacts in sourcing, manufacturing and transportation - including natural clay blocks, wood fibre insulation and concrete made with recycled materials. Water consumption will be reduced through the specification of efficient fittings and appliances. Rainwater will be harvested and used for irrigation and for WCs in the community facility
The building design and landscaping strategy will promote biodiversity through the selection of planting, building finishes and habitat creation. There is a wildlife garden on the southern block and 'green walls' with nest boxes for a number of species including swifts which are a target species in Brighton's Biodiversity Action Plan.
A community trust will be established which will facilitate the long term management of the completed development. This will be supported by a dedicated extranet to assist in creating a strong sense of community.
The Brighton One Planet Living Community will offer both private and affordable homes, including a proportion of 'eco-studios' to address the challenge of providing lower cost 'first rung' affordable private homes to the local market.
View the planning application online.
The zero-carbon development, being pioneered by the Worldwide Fund for Nature and international sustainability organisation Bioregional, will feature multi-storey apartment blocks, wind turbines and eco-friendly heating.
Chairman of Brighton & Hove Council's planning committee, councillor Les Hamilton, said: 'This is a very special development and I'm very proud that Brighton and Hove is part of this global project and not only that, but we will have the very first One Planet Living community in the world. It will put our city on the international environmental map.’
Bioregional will work with developer Crest Nicholson on the project. The company has agreed to invest ?290,000 in recreation, education, transport and public art. Work is due to begin before the end of the year.
What is the Brighton 'One Planet Living' Community?
The Brighton One Planet Living Community will form part of the New England Quarter (Blocks E & F) adjacent to the mainline train station in the south coast city of Brighton and Hove. The proposed development will offer residential accommodation (private and social housing and new 'eco-studios'), community space, new public open space and commercial areas. Through the design, specification and long term management the aim is to make sustainable high quality living easy, affordable and attractive.
The proposed development will offer:
- 172 homes (eco-studios, 1-bed, 2-bed and 3-bed units)
- 30% affordable homes
- 925m2 of community space
- 1134m2 of commercial space
The buildings will be constructed to reduce energy demands and achieve high levels of thermal efficiency. There will be a 'zero carbon strategy' which will include on-site renewable energy generation. A boiler using recycled wood chips will provide hot water and space heating and eight roof-mounted wind turbines will contribute towards the electricity demands. Electricity brought to the site will be from guaranteed new capacity renewable sources.
All homes will achieve an EcoHomes 'Excellent' rating and likewise, the offices will be designed to achieve Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method 'Excellent' rating.
There will be courtyards at different levels providing new high quality public open space and the development will contribute to the creation of the new 'Greenway' which will run through the New England Quarter. The Greenway will have dedicated space for pedestrians and cyclists, and will provide a new direct link to Brighton Station. One of the courtyards will be directly outside the major new Community Building and will offer opportunities for community events and public performances.
The site is well served by public transport and has very good access to a range of everyday services and amenities. Car and cycle clubs will make it easy for residents to live without a personal car and will be available to the wider community. The development is proposed as essentially 'car free' with only 12 parking spaces provided, 8 of which are for disabled use, with 4 allocated for a car club. An additional car parking space for the car club is proposed on the other side of New England Street outside New England House. In addition, a significant amount of secure cycle parking spaces will be created for all residents and visitors to the development, with a proportion allocated for a cycle club.
There will be opportunities for on-site food growing within a tight urban site through innovative building design, with facilities and initiatives to encourage the consumption of local and seasonal produce. Mini-allotments have been incorporated on part of the roof.
Recycling and composting will be encouraged through the provision of on-site segregation and composting facilities. This will be supplemented with guidance to residents from a Green Caretaker who will support the ongoing sustainable management of the development.
The development will be constructed using materials which offer high performance in use, but with reduced impacts in sourcing, manufacturing and transportation - including natural clay blocks, wood fibre insulation and concrete made with recycled materials. Water consumption will be reduced through the specification of efficient fittings and appliances. Rainwater will be harvested and used for irrigation and for WCs in the community facility
The building design and landscaping strategy will promote biodiversity through the selection of planting, building finishes and habitat creation. There is a wildlife garden on the southern block and 'green walls' with nest boxes for a number of species including swifts which are a target species in Brighton's Biodiversity Action Plan.
A community trust will be established which will facilitate the long term management of the completed development. This will be supported by a dedicated extranet to assist in creating a strong sense of community.
The Brighton One Planet Living Community will offer both private and affordable homes, including a proportion of 'eco-studios' to address the challenge of providing lower cost 'first rung' affordable private homes to the local market.
View the planning application online.
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