The Planning Guidelines state, in summary, that in order to form a sustainable community living project, according to the Local Authority guidelines, it would need to comply to (ALL POINTS SHOWN IN BLACK):
The Tree Ark Project, is a rural exemplar for The Ark Communities Project; forming regenerative sustainable community living projects, and includes the following in its proposals (AS SHOWN IN GREEN):
SO8 To protect and enhance the quality and distinctiveness of the biodiversity, geology and landscape of Breckland
The community will work cooperatively with the Local Authority, University/s, and Conservation groups to protect and manage the land; replant native species, re-introduce biodiversity to the site, monitor levels of impact
SO10 To require high quality design that meets high environmental standards
Buildings will be constructed of ecologically robust materials from the site and surrounding areas wherever feasible. Designs will Comply to Building Control standards, to all Approved Documents
SO11 To enhance open space provision throughout the District
The site will improve the landscape of its location, in cooperation with the Local Authority’s advisors
SO12 To promote renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions
There will be a showroom promoting the latest generation of innovative designs & renewable technologies
SO13 To minimise the risk of flooding to existing and new developments
Rainwater will be harvested, there will be no impermeable landscaping/surfacing, & buildings will be constructed upon raised platforms in case of flood-risk areas
SO14 To maximise the opportunity to redevelop sustainable previously developed land
The community will green any ‘brown field’ sites they are asked to manage, following Permaculture guidelines, Local Authority, and Conservation
SO15 To prevent groundwater contamination & deterioration in air, water & soil quality
Site dependant; foul will be filtered through planted beds or peat composting toilets will be installed. In all constructions, grey water will be recycled, and only renewable energies will be used for heating and power source
SO16 To require the efficient use of water resources
All water will be harvested efficiently
SO17 To minimise the amount of waste produced and promote sustainable waste management
Food will be grown on site, waste will be composted, and any non-biodegradable waste will be recycled
SO18 To provide for a significant modal shift from a reliance on the private car, in particular single person car use, to sustainable forms of transport
Employment will be provided on site, negating the need to commute to work by car. Alternative forms of transport will be provided at the site, to the site, and promoted through the showroom
HOU 1 – Housing land supply
We respectfully ask for any unmanaged, unproductive, wasted or barren asset land needing regeneration, replanting & restoration by our community, benefiting the landowner, CO2 emissions targets and existing rural communities in the vicinity
HOU 2 – Housing in towns and villages
Proposals can easily be incorporated into any environment
HOU 4 – Housing need
The East of England has over 14,780 households on the waiting lists for affordable housing (2009)
HOU 7 – Housing in dispersed rural communities
The proposed sustainable community living projects will regenerate the local economy of the existing rural community
HOU 8 – Houses in the countryside
Houses will have minimal impact, constructed from natural materials, designed to biodegrade when climate changes makes the land uninhabitable to human existence
HOU 12 – Personal and domestic circumstances
A high percentage of community members fall into the category of exclusion and/or deprivation, and all members benefit by the right of inclusive and cooperative housing
Any new housing would also need to fulfil “the Sustainable Community Strategy for Breckland 2008-2011”, quoting that sustainable communities ‘are likely’ to be:
All homes will be sustainable, and the people forming the community will be empowered by their affordable self-sustainability, responsible accountability, and self-sufficiency
Members in this open, showcase community, will have an enhanced police CRB for visitor approval, and will follow the directives as set out by the Co-Housing Organisation and/or Co-Operative housing
Every respect will be paid to the environment of the community, and for the World’s ecology
Connections: Public transport routes, networking, Universities, Colleges, Schools, existing communities
The Sustainable Community Strategy shows that Breckland’s priorities include:
promoting better access to affordable housing for local people
The community is formed of local people, many in need of truly affordable housing, remaining units/plots will offer other existing local residents the opportunity of living in affordable sustainability within that district or catchment area
increase the number of vulnerable people achieving independent living
The community is formed of people from a spectrum of ranges, and offers inclusion and employment for all, with a variety of employment levels to empower individuals with all level of abilities. Co-Housing communities promote the support of the individual by the community, everyone forming the community is supportive
SO1 the delivery of a minimum 15,200 net new homes
The Tree Ark Project itself is envisaged to offer approximately 12-15 new homes in its own community, but as an exemplar of The Ark Communities Project, is replicable everywhere for anyone wishing to regenerate their environment for future generations, replant and help to decrease CO2 emission levels
SO2 securing sufficient affordable housing for those in need
The community will support other communities trying to form similar Ark Communities elsewhere, offering a wide range of supporting services, consultants, designs, construction support services, plus research and documentation forming the basis the report, design statements, help and advice
The Local Development Framework prioritises:
SO4 To develop and retain a flexible and highly skilled workforce through training
Linking with local schools, colleges and university’s, providing educational support, visiting lecturers, adult educational resources, and utilising the lecture room facilities to benefit all
SO13 To ensure high and stable levels of employment through restructuring the local economy
The community will offer enough employment potential for community members to be guaranteed a regular income. The self-sustainability of the proposals will spread income generation to the local economy as visitor numbers and turnover grows, and as local businesses become more involved in the sustainable marketability of the cooperative schemes offered
SO19 To ensure good accessibility for all to jobs, facilities and services in Breckland
Transport plans will provide details for local connections to public transport. Where none is currently available, plans will be proposed to incorporate alternative, sustainable and community modes of transport
The Local Authority’s priorities for environmental sustainability includes the needs to:
Minimise the impact on climate change by all those living and working in the district
The community members themselves will live in a zero carbon community, and promote a level of understanding and inclusion of the need to everyone with concerns in the district
Raise environmental awareness in local communities
The information provided by the community through the visitor centre will help to promote the understanding of the need for a low-impacting lifestyle to both visitors and the existing rural community
Minimise the impact of waste production and increase recycling rates
The value of all materials is recognised and understood by the community, wherever possible waste materials will be either recycled or re-used. The community will showcase recycling methods and detail the planets’ cost in terms of production
Reduce the environmental impact of travel
Transport plans and public transport links will be used and promoted wherever possible.
The showroom will promote alternative forms of transport, and the new generation of alternative forms of personal transport – bicycles, vehicles powered by compressed air, electricity, solar energy, hydrogen and other alternatives to fossil-fuelled motorised transport
Adapting to climate change
The educational resource centre will promote public understanding to the climate challenges which face all children and future generations.
Links with experts in the field hope to provide the public with the advice they need in order to adapt their existing buildings to cope with the climate of tomorrow.
The buildings constructed on the site itself will be designed to suit the changing environment. Envisaging the worst ravages which climate change will bring, buildings will be constructed on the understanding that the effects of climate change may require the inhabitants to move on from the site.
Designing flexibility into the construction to allow windows, doors, sanitaryware, kitchens and renewable power/heat generating technologies to be moved with personal possessions, and reused in the construction of a replacement eco-home for that resident at the next location.
Being of ecological construction, any abandoned building would be able to biodegrade back into the land from whence it came
Reducing per capita CO2 emissions in the LA area
1 ton of cement manufactured produces 1 ton of CO2 emissions, concrete & cement constructions will not be condoned or used by the community unless there is a Local Authority requirement to do so, e.g. if it were the only material capable of providing the cementacious footings needed for stability of construction of a publicly accessible building. The community will promote public understanding of climate change, and the need to reduce CO2 emissions
Municipal waste land filled
Landfill sites have the potential to provide methane and nitrogen, both inherently energetic and dangerous to the environment. Methane can be captured, pressurised, and used as an energy source or fuel. Biological Nitrogen can potentially be removed with sequencing batch reactor technology according to a report by Erika Heander, Water and Environmental Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Lund University, October 2007. (+ Many other valuable materials in land-fill.)
Tackling fuel poverty – people receiving income based benefits living in homes with a low energy efficiency rating
A high percentage of the proposed community members are currently unable to afford to heat their existing accommodation.
All are living in rental accommodation - in which they have no control of energy ratings, or sustainability.
There is no control for tenants currently living in rental accommodation – some of which having:
The straw bale & timber constructions as proposed for the first, exemplar site will provide a highly efficient level of insulation through the use of a construction material which is generally classified as ‘waste’.
Maximised insulation levels will minimise the level of energy needed to heat the buildings, providing a far better quality of life for all residents, and cut CO2 emissions.
The use of renewable technologies for heating and energy, and the understanding of insulation values, performance and energy rating will all be promoted and quantified on site to the visiting public.
Users’ feedback, equipment reliability and usability will be provided for visitor’s evaluation, along with costs, details and energy consultancy services.
N.B. The Showroom sales will provide the site with income through commissions, and though net profit redistribution add to Global Ark Projects’ funding needed to help form other regenerative sustainable community living projects – The Ark Communities Project.
The Tree Ark Project, is a rural exemplar for The Ark Communities Project; forming regenerative sustainable community living projects, and includes the following in its proposals (AS SHOWN IN GREEN):
SO8 To protect and enhance the quality and distinctiveness of the biodiversity, geology and landscape of Breckland
The community will work cooperatively with the Local Authority, University/s, and Conservation groups to protect and manage the land; replant native species, re-introduce biodiversity to the site, monitor levels of impact
SO10 To require high quality design that meets high environmental standards
Buildings will be constructed of ecologically robust materials from the site and surrounding areas wherever feasible. Designs will Comply to Building Control standards, to all Approved Documents
SO11 To enhance open space provision throughout the District
The site will improve the landscape of its location, in cooperation with the Local Authority’s advisors
SO12 To promote renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions
There will be a showroom promoting the latest generation of innovative designs & renewable technologies
SO13 To minimise the risk of flooding to existing and new developments
Rainwater will be harvested, there will be no impermeable landscaping/surfacing, & buildings will be constructed upon raised platforms in case of flood-risk areas
SO14 To maximise the opportunity to redevelop sustainable previously developed land
The community will green any ‘brown field’ sites they are asked to manage, following Permaculture guidelines, Local Authority, and Conservation
SO15 To prevent groundwater contamination & deterioration in air, water & soil quality
Site dependant; foul will be filtered through planted beds or peat composting toilets will be installed. In all constructions, grey water will be recycled, and only renewable energies will be used for heating and power source
SO16 To require the efficient use of water resources
All water will be harvested efficiently
SO17 To minimise the amount of waste produced and promote sustainable waste management
Food will be grown on site, waste will be composted, and any non-biodegradable waste will be recycled
SO18 To provide for a significant modal shift from a reliance on the private car, in particular single person car use, to sustainable forms of transport
Employment will be provided on site, negating the need to commute to work by car. Alternative forms of transport will be provided at the site, to the site, and promoted through the showroom
HOU 1 – Housing land supply
We respectfully ask for any unmanaged, unproductive, wasted or barren asset land needing regeneration, replanting & restoration by our community, benefiting the landowner, CO2 emissions targets and existing rural communities in the vicinity
HOU 2 – Housing in towns and villages
Proposals can easily be incorporated into any environment
HOU 4 – Housing need
The East of England has over 14,780 households on the waiting lists for affordable housing (2009)
HOU 7 – Housing in dispersed rural communities
The proposed sustainable community living projects will regenerate the local economy of the existing rural community
HOU 8 – Houses in the countryside
Houses will have minimal impact, constructed from natural materials, designed to biodegrade when climate changes makes the land uninhabitable to human existence
HOU 12 – Personal and domestic circumstances
A high percentage of community members fall into the category of exclusion and/or deprivation, and all members benefit by the right of inclusive and cooperative housing
Any new housing would also need to fulfil “the Sustainable Community Strategy for Breckland 2008-2011”, quoting that sustainable communities ‘are likely’ to be:
All homes will be sustainable, and the people forming the community will be empowered by their affordable self-sustainability, responsible accountability, and self-sufficiency
- Active, inclusive and safe
Members in this open, showcase community, will have an enhanced police CRB for visitor approval, and will follow the directives as set out by the Co-Housing Organisation and/or Co-Operative housing
- Well run
- Environmentally sensitive
Every respect will be paid to the environment of the community, and for the World’s ecology
- Well designed and built
- Well connected
Connections: Public transport routes, networking, Universities, Colleges, Schools, existing communities
- Thriving
- Well served
- Fair for everyone
- Have a strong economy with skilled jobs
- Be able to support themselves
- Build good quality homes that are affordable for future generations
- Offer skills and vocational training for young people
- Dormitory/guest accommodation will be available on site for use by residential students
- a local college will offer vocational courses to students learning a range of ecological building construction techniques
- youth groups wishing to study rural skills/survival skills
- traditional/organic land management skills
- traditional arts and crafts
- lectures and guest speakers
- Promote recycling
- Offer a range of local services
- Present opportunities for all members of the community
The Sustainable Community Strategy shows that Breckland’s priorities include:
promoting better access to affordable housing for local people
The community is formed of local people, many in need of truly affordable housing, remaining units/plots will offer other existing local residents the opportunity of living in affordable sustainability within that district or catchment area
increase the number of vulnerable people achieving independent living
The community is formed of people from a spectrum of ranges, and offers inclusion and employment for all, with a variety of employment levels to empower individuals with all level of abilities. Co-Housing communities promote the support of the individual by the community, everyone forming the community is supportive
SO1 the delivery of a minimum 15,200 net new homes
The Tree Ark Project itself is envisaged to offer approximately 12-15 new homes in its own community, but as an exemplar of The Ark Communities Project, is replicable everywhere for anyone wishing to regenerate their environment for future generations, replant and help to decrease CO2 emission levels
SO2 securing sufficient affordable housing for those in need
The community will support other communities trying to form similar Ark Communities elsewhere, offering a wide range of supporting services, consultants, designs, construction support services, plus research and documentation forming the basis the report, design statements, help and advice
The Local Development Framework prioritises:
SO4 To develop and retain a flexible and highly skilled workforce through training
Linking with local schools, colleges and university’s, providing educational support, visiting lecturers, adult educational resources, and utilising the lecture room facilities to benefit all
SO13 To ensure high and stable levels of employment through restructuring the local economy
The community will offer enough employment potential for community members to be guaranteed a regular income. The self-sustainability of the proposals will spread income generation to the local economy as visitor numbers and turnover grows, and as local businesses become more involved in the sustainable marketability of the cooperative schemes offered
SO19 To ensure good accessibility for all to jobs, facilities and services in Breckland
Transport plans will provide details for local connections to public transport. Where none is currently available, plans will be proposed to incorporate alternative, sustainable and community modes of transport
The Local Authority’s priorities for environmental sustainability includes the needs to:
Minimise the impact on climate change by all those living and working in the district
The community members themselves will live in a zero carbon community, and promote a level of understanding and inclusion of the need to everyone with concerns in the district
Raise environmental awareness in local communities
The information provided by the community through the visitor centre will help to promote the understanding of the need for a low-impacting lifestyle to both visitors and the existing rural community
Minimise the impact of waste production and increase recycling rates
The value of all materials is recognised and understood by the community, wherever possible waste materials will be either recycled or re-used. The community will showcase recycling methods and detail the planets’ cost in terms of production
Reduce the environmental impact of travel
Transport plans and public transport links will be used and promoted wherever possible.
The showroom will promote alternative forms of transport, and the new generation of alternative forms of personal transport – bicycles, vehicles powered by compressed air, electricity, solar energy, hydrogen and other alternatives to fossil-fuelled motorised transport
Adapting to climate change
The educational resource centre will promote public understanding to the climate challenges which face all children and future generations.
Links with experts in the field hope to provide the public with the advice they need in order to adapt their existing buildings to cope with the climate of tomorrow.
The buildings constructed on the site itself will be designed to suit the changing environment. Envisaging the worst ravages which climate change will bring, buildings will be constructed on the understanding that the effects of climate change may require the inhabitants to move on from the site.
Designing flexibility into the construction to allow windows, doors, sanitaryware, kitchens and renewable power/heat generating technologies to be moved with personal possessions, and reused in the construction of a replacement eco-home for that resident at the next location.
Being of ecological construction, any abandoned building would be able to biodegrade back into the land from whence it came
Reducing per capita CO2 emissions in the LA area
1 ton of cement manufactured produces 1 ton of CO2 emissions, concrete & cement constructions will not be condoned or used by the community unless there is a Local Authority requirement to do so, e.g. if it were the only material capable of providing the cementacious footings needed for stability of construction of a publicly accessible building. The community will promote public understanding of climate change, and the need to reduce CO2 emissions
Municipal waste land filled
Landfill sites have the potential to provide methane and nitrogen, both inherently energetic and dangerous to the environment. Methane can be captured, pressurised, and used as an energy source or fuel. Biological Nitrogen can potentially be removed with sequencing batch reactor technology according to a report by Erika Heander, Water and Environmental Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Lund University, October 2007. (+ Many other valuable materials in land-fill.)
Tackling fuel poverty – people receiving income based benefits living in homes with a low energy efficiency rating
A high percentage of the proposed community members are currently unable to afford to heat their existing accommodation.
All are living in rental accommodation - in which they have no control of energy ratings, or sustainability.
There is no control for tenants currently living in rental accommodation – some of which having:
- single glazed windows which do not close properly,
- ill-fitting doors,
- minimal insulation,
- oil, gas or electrical heating systems which cost more than people on income ‘top-ups’ or benefits can afford.
The straw bale & timber constructions as proposed for the first, exemplar site will provide a highly efficient level of insulation through the use of a construction material which is generally classified as ‘waste’.
Maximised insulation levels will minimise the level of energy needed to heat the buildings, providing a far better quality of life for all residents, and cut CO2 emissions.
The use of renewable technologies for heating and energy, and the understanding of insulation values, performance and energy rating will all be promoted and quantified on site to the visiting public.
Users’ feedback, equipment reliability and usability will be provided for visitor’s evaluation, along with costs, details and energy consultancy services.
N.B. The Showroom sales will provide the site with income through commissions, and though net profit redistribution add to Global Ark Projects’ funding needed to help form other regenerative sustainable community living projects – The Ark Communities Project.
