Howard Johns
|
Sustainability vision statement - 2006/01/31 05:32
Lewes Matters Sustainability Group
Regarding the proposed development at the Phoenix site in Lewes.
Concerns:
Provision of 800 new dwellings in central Lewes will have a detrimental effect on the existing infrastructure of the area. Water, energy and transport systems will be put under added stress. The potential new development will not meet any of its needs on site in terms of power, heating, and water, and will add severely to the congestion of an already busy area.
Opportunity:
There is a great opportunity for a flagship development with sustainability of the built environment and the local community as one of the core principals. One which combines a range of different elements; social housing with normal developments, live/work space, car sharing facilities, and renewable energy technologies to lessen the impact of the development on the local community and the environment.
Renewable Energy Generation and PPS22
Precedents have been set across the country where local councils have specified that developers meet certain standards regarding energy use and on site energy generation for a development. The Planning Policy Statement 22 (PPS22) says: 'Local planning authorities and developers should consider the opportunity for incorporating renewable energy projects in all new developments. Local planning authorities should specifically encourage such schemes through positively expressed policies in local development documents.' (Para 18) This has been translated by many councils by setting a required percentage of the energy requirements of the development being met by renewable energy on site. Typically 10% of the energy requirement of the development when it is fully occupied is the figure specified, and developers use a range technologies to achieve this figure. There are many councils across the country who have adopted these plans. Merton in South London was the first, and it won a test case which gave the green light for other councils to be able to apply the same rules in their districts. Other councils include; Croydon, Kirklees, Woking, Southwark.
There are many projects across the country that have met this target successfully, and remained commercial.
This should be the minimum that our Council should be requiring of the developers of this project.
Vision for a Sustainable Development
Whilst requiring 10% on site generation from renewable energies would be a start, we would like to see a more visionary approach for this development. There are many precedents for this within the country, for example Bed Zed in Beddington South London.
Ideas for this development include:
1. A Biomass Combined Heat and Power unit, which could provide metered heat to all the homes in the development, and also some of the sites electricity needs. This sort of scheme is common on the continent, and is becoming much more common in the UK. It is often more cost-effective to buy one large boiler than many small ones.
2. Solar Thermal systems which provided hot water heating for all homes. A well designed solar thermal system could provide up to 70% of a building's hot water needs over the year, for a capital investment of around £2K per house on a new build, or £3.5K if fitted afterwards.
3. Solar Electric systems which provided electricity for some homes. A well designed solar electrical system could provide up to 100% of a building's electricity needs over the year
4. A wind turbine to provide electricity for some homes. Either by using small roof mounted turbines throughout the development, or by one larger on for the whole thing.
1. Rainwater harvesting systems, to collect rainwater and filter it for non potable uses within the buildings. This is now commonplace on lots of buildings in the UK. It can provide multiple benefits – a reduction in water costs to the users of the buildings, and reduced incidence of flooding due to heavy rain, as there would be less storm water discharged to the local sewerage system
For a development of this magnitude it would be massive missed opportunity for the town of Lewes if some of these ideas are not taken up. The increasing instability of fuel prices will inevitably mean an increase in the instance of fuel poverty in our district. By using renewable energy technologies the occupants of these dwellings may perhaps be insulated from the worst.
|
