Linda Beamish
Progress Report
April 2009The Tree Ark Project – project start date August 08
Sustainable Community Living Project
Breckland Norfolk
Following initial client briefing a date was arranged to meet and visit the site August 2008.
The client's site is divided into 4 plots, all unmanaged and untouched for approximately 20 years


Plot 1:
A small “L”-shaped plot, low-lying, set between listed Almshouses, a stream and a dwelling which was constructed when the initial plot was previously sub-divided and sold-off.  The Plot having Main road frontage onto a B-listed road, screened with trees, and a second “driveway” width accessible from the side road, allowing access to the plot behind the Almshouses.


The plot is set to the lowest point of a valley with heavy undergrowth build-up and is sited opposite a large commercial garage and car bodywork workshop.The other side of the stream is a working farmhouse and farmyard.History of problems with boundary movement by the dwelling-house created when the plot was originally sub-divided, fence line encroached into our client's plot and had to be re-instated.   


Plot 2, 3 and 4:
Large woodland plots set at higher ground further North along the same B road.
Plot 2 having full main road frontage
Plot 3 incorporating public footpath(Divided from Plot 4 from what researched discovered as being classified as “Common Land”
Plot 4 located at the end of the straight run of public footpath at a point where the footpath turns from North-South to East across agricultural land.All plots heavily wooded with undergrowth, unmanaged.


Client Briefing
To determine what, if anything could be done to create a commercial/residential use for the plots in order to release revenue to the clients.
Initial advise was that anything which could be accepted by the Local Authority Development Control department, following their own guidelines, would need to be sustainable, was met with approval with the clients and I initially contacted the principal planning officer by email requesting a meeting on 15th August 2008 (Please see actual first meeting date - 4th February 2009 - !)


The following proposals were put together following extensive research and consultation with all those parties accessible to form the draft concept.Although we had been unable to visit plot 4 at the original site visit, through viewing the plot via Google-Earth, there appeared to be some area of a clearing.


Research into the latest planning guidelines as initiated by central government showed confirmation of knowledge previously gained on other projects in other Local Authority areas.Previous “Permitted Development Boundaries” in rural areas have been removed.  


There are completely limiting sets of criteria for any constructions within rural areas, these being:
Housing to a proven need – stating basically that residential accommodation can be proposed where it meets the following criteria:  that agricultural, forestry or other rural land worker needs (proven) to be accommodated alongside their employment, i.e., farmer, livestock requiring 24hourly monitoring. Or, the housing must be affordable and to a proven need.
(There can be cases where a self-contained annex may be constructed for extended family, especially in the case of having an elder or other in need of constant care.)


Obviously, with such a tight brief to work within, there were very limiting boundaries to provide any hope to the clients.Despite the above guidelines, an outline proposal was drafted for Plot 1.
The Ordinance Survey (O/S) was purchased, and the boundary fence position on the O/S was re-positioned to show a more accurate account of the plot size.
 
A raised dwelling was positioned onto the plot to allow:
Vehicular access from the side road, with garaging under the dwelling house – this also taking into account the proximity to the stream and the position in the valley, the assumption being the lack of defence to any potential flood. 

The construction proposed was ecological and low-impact, and in order to retain character and not be detrimental or invasive in its siting, the front line of the building was to level with the front of the Almshouses.  The existing trees running along the boundary to the B road were left in position to form natural screening, and the initial block plan was submitted to the Local Authority for consultation in September 2008.

Work commenced in more detail on proposals for Plots 2 – 4

October – November 2008, much time spent researching advisory bodies who could help start-up for this project.  None available for this stage of the proceedings.

Research into proving the need and the viability of the community project

Research into other sustainable communities and how they achieved their targets and gained consent

Research into areas considered as “deprivation” classification – as per governments' guidelines in “proving the need” of the sustainable community

Research showed that in order for a Rural Living Community Project to be considered in any way by Development Control, there would need to be details forming the business plan, proving the viability of the proposals and the explanation of the residents “on-site” self-sufficiency – their need to commute to work could not be a consideration, they needed to show their ability to work “on-site” and to be able to earn enough money to make the scheme viable.

The Government definition of a sustainable community is:
Sustainable communities are places were people want to live and work, now and in the future.  They meet the diverse needs of existing and future residents, are sensitive to their environment, and contribute to a high quality of life.  They are safe and inclusive, well planned, built and run, and offer equal opportunity and good services for all.

Given the quality and diversity of these woodland plots, in order to comply with the guidelines there needed to be a proven, understandable need, the woodland environment needed to be assessed and any proposals needed to have little or no impact on the diversity of the site, the difficult guidelines obviously required an enormous amount of back up information prior to putting any proposals together.

Initial concept was to provide affordable housing with a visitor centre, communal garden, rural crafts available to purchase via the visitor centre, cafe, gallery, woodland walks with information on the site bio-diversity, Eco-Living, etc.

The Client's feedback to the scheme brief 13th October 2008, was positive, and the scheme proposals continued, although it was also possible at this stage to give feedback on from the planning officer regarding the draft proposals for Plot 1.  

The Planning Department's assistant officer advised that the Planning guidelines clearly show that no development would be considered for this plot.  She went on to confirm that this would include even low-impact sustainably constructed and stated that it was within the flood plain.  When I stated that the proposed dwelling would be raised up on supports allowing it to be above the flood-risk, this also met with a negative response.

I therefore had to advise the clients that unless this plot were considered to be crucial to the business venture part of The Tree Ark Project, a stand-alone construction would be hard to gain any consent for as it would be outside the planning guidelines.

Appointment with The Principal Planning officer was sought continually but, despite continued emails, letters and phone calls (including draft proposals of scheme), there was no feedback on the main plots 2-4 until my initial meeting with him 

After the initial site visit had been abandoned due to conditions on site,  a second site visit was arranged after the initial scheme had become more detailed.  The second site visit determined that Plot 4, previously seen on Google Earth as having a clearing, was actually formed of a large area of wetland, surrounded by trees and shrubs.  Deer were evident on this site, and the richness of the site's natural bio-diversity became more apparent.

Previous notations to form timber framed structures based within the existing trees on raised timber platforms, adapted to include increased depth to the raised footings to allow for the continuation of the wildlife inhabiting the area.

Researched various build techniques which may be suitable to the areas concerned, and came to the conclusion that the proposed dwellings would need to be:

Of lightweight timber frame and straw-bale, low impact construction
(Constructed in such a way that windows, doors, kitchen and bathroom fittings, plus mains/heating generating equipment could be removed and taken along with other personal possessions when needed - at such time as the predicted sea level rise and/or the next ice-age prohibits habitation of that specific site, and that the remaining building would go back down into the ground from whence it came.)


Raised up from the wetland via legged supports and decking system, working around and using the existing trees wherever possible as natural supports.
Straw bale inclusion for insulation to roofs and floors – alternatives including sheep's-wool, recycled newspaper and hemp, all cost dependant and site specific
Materials from local land-fill site if possible or any, recycled bottles definitely 
Lime render, painted
Roofing systems to include planted roofs and timber, but allow for the collection and harvesting of rainwater
Off-grid electrical and water supplies – feeding back into the electrical mains grid services if viable, given distance from the road
Peat composting toilets
Glazing systems will need to comply to Local Authority (LA) approvals and to approved documents
Heating systems, ditto, but to be produced by renewable and alternative energy supply, including:
Solar – solar panels
photo voltaic panels – p.v.
Solar gain through south facing glazing systems to integral greenhouses for private resident's     food production
Wind – wind generators
Geothermal
beneath ground to depth
laid out across ground to approved depth (site allowing as impact assessment may prohibit)
Air source heat pumps
Bio-mass boiler systems
** possible additional heating systems:
log burners with back boilers
algae farming forming own bio-fuel on-site
methane extraction from local land-fill, re-usable, pressurised cylinders 
(NB - methane burning giving off what waste gas?)

The visitor centre to be constructed similarly, and positioned on Plot 2 with full roadside access.
Cladding of timber shingles and roofing clad to match
(N.B. Please see the Information Centre at the New Forest, Hampshire, site adjacent to Beauleigh)
Mains back up supply for electricity and water would be needed on this plot in order to comply with legislative guidelines for publicly accessible buildings, also, the need became further apparent when considering the alternative options of viable earnings potential for the residents of the sustainable community living project.
 
While conducting my research into the published guidelines as given by the Local Authority and Governmental departments, it became apparent that there could be another use for the visitor centre which would prove an additional revenue and also help to further the centre's demand and use by local resident's and tourists alike.
This being the inclusion of an Information and Educational facility on site.

Purchased a laser printer, researched and purchased domain names for all the Global Ark Projects – although The Tree Ark Project alone was primary for the sustainable community site, it also became apparent that even though I was adhering closely to Government's own guidelines and could prove the “need” for this development, I would also need to provide plenty of opportunities in terms of flexible revenues, additional inclusions to draw the paying public and to guarantee  and maximize earnings and income potentials.

I presented a very brief outline verbally and handed out the draft proposals for the Tree Ark Project at a networking meeting at the beginning of December 2008, passing round a questionnaire for feedback and numbers showing interest in such a scheme – split 50%

Research papers and draft Tree Ark Project scheme in hand, I approached the local college in King's Lynn where I had contacted my own ex-tutor.  A respected Architect himself and well researched into the ecology, sustainability, global deprivation, construction law and planning procedures, the initial 2hour meeting was held the college on December 19th 2008.

I contacted Mr Smith with my proposals as I respect his judgement and if I were barking up the wrong tree, I knew that he would not hold back from advising me of that fact.

Mr Smith was impressed by The Tree Ark Project proposal papers, and the inclusions of all those fields which the site's facilities would aim to provide.  He immediately saw the potential for the college to become aligned/included in the proposals and suggested that there may be benefit in putting the proposals forward to the faculty head – the vast majority of the courses run through the college now need to include sustainability within their syllabus.

End December 2008, film offer for project from Pink Ginger Films, Bristol.

January 2009
My draft presentation documentation continued along with further research into climate change, researchers analysis etc.  

Graphic art software was purchased in order to design the logo's, and I started to prepare numerous articles to provide some level of basic understanding of those proposals forming, by this stage:

Global Ark Projects – www.globalarkprojects.com
(the hub forming links to all those further listed, and mother website, organisational strategy, the ethics forming the constitution of the organisation, and the baseplate for income generation through advertising – further on Ark Portal below)
The Tree Ark Project – www.thetreearkproject.com
(the sustainable community living project being formed, based at the client's site in East Bilney.  See details.)
The Ark Portal of Innovations – www.thearkportalofinnovations.com 
(Through forming solid following and readership via the environmentally concerned public, the portal gives space for innovations, submitted by local schools, colleges, universities and the public.  It also shows all those sustainable innovations currently available.  Commissions, sponsorship, donations and sponsored links plus advertising and commissions on concept sales.)
The Ark Communities Project – www.thearkcommunitiesproject.com
(further sustainable communities based upon the blueprint formed by Global Ark Projects and the exemplar of design showcasing all areas included in these proposals)
The Ark Water Project – www.thearkwaterproject.com
(Provision of water for all, supporting existing water-aid charities and forming the basic funding to provide solar and wave powered desalination plants, themselves sustainable communities 
The Ark Elements Project – www.thearkelementsproject.com 
(Global climatic predictions, how future generations would manage in what terrain and circumstances, how to build in varying situations, terrains and environments.)
Information for Tomorrow – www.information4tomorrow.com
(Scientists predictions for the future, latest scientific advancement, what is happening and when.)

4th February 2009, finally met with the Principal Planning Officer, Breckland Council – armed with an amassed pile of research notes, and with a draft proposal document. It was confirmed that this formed  the basic criteria I would need to prove in order to be able to proceed with the proposals for the sustainable community living project at East Bilney.

He confirmed that the information I had produced to that stage was along those lines acceptable and followed their guidelines, but stated that I would need to be able to show more detailed account for “the need” and “the need for the site to be based at the woodland in East Bilney”, also suggested it would help if I had a website showing company ethics and explaining principles and proposals would be beneficial to all those needing to find out more about our organisation.

I was to form more detailed account of the housing, residents, the visitor centre and to produce written confirmation of the links to all those companies and educational establishments wishing to form links and support the Tree Ark Project.

5th February2009, Met with Jenny Lonsdale, Director, Environmental Investigations Agency and discussed the Tree Ark Project.  Was offered support and offered Mr Lonsdale as an independent film cameraman for the construction project.  Links to their website, and to return the links when Global Ark Projects' website up and running.

6th February 2009
Met with the clients and passed feedback from the meeting with the Principal Planning Officer, informed them of progress with the local college and of the potential linking with youth groups.  Instructed to continue with the woodland site proposals, but they wished to know whether something could be done with the other single plot.

10th February 2009Met with “The Guild” in Norwich.  Discussed the site proposals and the Global Ark Projects proposed set up.  Was advised that I could not have the Ark Water Project as a charity as it is against legislation to feed company funds into its own charity.  Advised that all branches could be run as non-profit distributing, and that the Tree Ark Project and other branches, could all be classed as “social enterprise”.  


They ran through all the ways that the company needed to be constructed and formalised, and we decided upon those forming the basic infrastructure in which the company is now being set up.  They sent through an email with the example of the infrastructure we needed to organise, and I was instructed to form the basic community in order to access further consultations, be grant worthy, and move on to the next level of the organisational structuring.  I was advised that I really needed to have at least 6 people structured within the company.
 
11th February 2009
Met with Business Link.  Was advised that the initial material forming the reasoned arguments for the purpose of the organisation needed to be even stronger than I had presented.  Advised on various courses which may be constructive, and was commended for my concept.

14th February 2009
Met with Synergy, discussed business proposals and gained the possibility of two further communities after the Tree Ark Project.  Was advised on the grants process for start up of non-profit distributing organisation.

Started to call on friends who had previously stated that they may be interested in forming the first Ark community to confirm their interest and to start to consider what roles and duties they may be able to continue on site.

Continued preparation -writing and editing of the articles forming the explanation of the organisation for use on flyers, the website and the Local Authority.

16th February 2009
Met with other clients who have “the Earth Restoration Charity”, presented my proposals and gained their support.  Links to be put to their charity, and returned back to Global Ark Projects.  
Possibility of another sustainable community.  Possible further linking later dependant upon the way the organisation grows.

17th February 2009
Attended a lecture “Can we adapt the built environment in time” presented by Professor Michael Kelly at the University of Cambridge, organised by Sir Brian Heap.  Spoke with Sir Brian Heap, introduced to the professor who gave the lecture and who confirmed interest in my proposals, to contact once the website is running smoothly.  Possible visiting lectures on site, links to the university, suggested another professor may also be interested in my proposals and gave contact details.  Also formed links with an international organisation happy to promote through site links.

26th February 2009
Met with Paul to start to get the first website set up, by the and of the day, the first format was loaded, the header strip was adapted to incorporate my logo, and I had the first few articles and links loaded, instructions were given as to how to add and edit articles and I was left to continue writing and loading.

28th February 2009
Met with friends who are interested in the possibility of joining the community, also discussed the possibility of forming youth group links through their network and links.

March 2009
Continued to do further research based on my enquiries and to write articles for the website, to edit flyers and introductory brochures for the Tree Ark Project and the Ark Portal of Innovations, continued contact with the college, reports and updates of proceedings.  Presented proposals to more friends and clients for feedback and gradually gained possible links (TBC) needed for the community and organisational roles as advised by Business Link and the Guild.

Tried to contact Inspire East and EEDA, but unable to consult with these organisations until the company has been formed (one person alone cannot be given the advise needed to move ahead with the sustainable community living project, no advise on what grants available until that time).
Was to meet with a friend who may have been interested in buying a plot but this had to be cancelled due to ill health.

30th March,
Paul returned to complete the website, he loaded up survey form and said that he would get the database set up from home.  The survey form did not work as an extended poll.Bought about 25 photos and graphics for use on posters and flyers, plus website.  Bought ijoomla magazine and ijoomla survey website template add-ons in order to try to speed up the website form and give it the presentation which it needed.
 
April 2009
Met with Boudicca marketing and PR company, they were not able to take on any marketing as so bogged down with work, but Alice did say she would help me in whatever way she could, and will provide all the contacts lists for press-releases.  Also advised me that I needed to find some way of simplifying the proposals to gain public awareness.

12th April had email from tutor to let me know that he had finished preparation of his position paper and that subject to my approval this would be put forward to the faculty head!
Had one week off on holiday.  (my first in three years) – worked on the project while on holiday.
Had the inspiration for the ripples poster.

Back from holiday 18th, Sunday 19th started on the posters in readiness for the “Earth Day” exhibition at Bunham Deepdale on the 22nd.  Bought additional photographs for the ripple poster, and worked on the posters until 2am.

Monday 20th worked on posters from 9am until 5am 21st, had 2 hours sleep, then up again to go and meet Jon Jackson for advise on the website.  Had hoped that he may be able to get it finished off within an affordably predicted time, get the survey form and database working and then be ready to launch and get the press releases out.  Printed out all the flyers  and survey forms.  LB called round with screen, projector and 2 printed posters, flew off to stationers to get all the other posters printed and laminated. Edited powerpoint presentation. Packed car and actually got some sleep.

22nd April, represented the Global Ark Projects scheme at the Earth Day exhibition.  Not many turned out, but did get some interested feedback, formed links and potential contacts.  Learnt that you need to have things like “PLEASE TAKE SURVEY FORM AND COMPLETE” with arrows on your display!!

Organised the first official meeting for all those now forming “The Tree Ark Project” community – for 7th May.

30th April paid for a training day with Computer man to teach me how to get the ijoomla magazine layout sorted, how to load these new articles and get it all set up.

Saturday 2nd May, started drafting up notes for the meeting on 7th, drafting up more posters and equations for how the projects need to be explained, finished 4am. 
Sunday, met MH, passed over notes for typing up, worked on schedule of duties and roles within the community project, income generation listings and meeting agenda, finished 5am, 2 hours sleep.

Monday 4th May, met with clients, and although fully in supportive of all the environmental aims of the proposed project, was disillusioned that nobody is able to buy any plots currently, and was concerned that no further progress made with the small single plot - and nobody buying that one either.  
Instructed not to proceed further with the small plot, but that they were happy for the  proceedings to continue with the woodland site  and agreed that “the other plots would definitely lend themselves to this wonderful project”, plot rental is fine, but if there came an opportunity for people to buy – that is also fine, and would be the preferred option if the opportunity arose.

Tuesday 5th May, wrote progress report, necessary for briefing all concerned.

Thursday 7th May – the first Tree Ark Project sustainable community living project meeting @ 12.00. - the formation of the organisational infrastructure and management committee.

SUMMARY
Government's legislative policy governing planning in rural areas, latest update 2008, decrees that the only new housing out of townships, is to be affordable housing, and to a “proven need”
In order to form a sustainable community living project, one has to prove the “need”
A high percentage of the members forming the community need to fall into the classification of “deprivation” - that is not to say they do not work, but that they are facing some sort of problem.
In order to prove the need, it was required to include those who could really benefit from affordable housing.
Government's guidelines also aim to achieve low impact and sustainable housing in the countryside and many schemes and funds have been put in place in order to achieve truly affordable housing to offer local rural resident's an opportunity to remain in those rural areas.
In order to fulfil the criteria, it must also be shown that the community will all be able to work on site and have viable, paying roles within the community itself.
Plans must include alternative transport for both the visiting public and the community itself.
A business plan has to be formed and the company infrastructure written up and agreed.
The company policy and ethics have to be written up and understood.
Business links must be proven to be formed.

In order to gain access to the advisors at EEDA and Inspire East – and in order to be able to gain access to those offices set up to help start up sustainable businesses, social enterprises and rural enterprises, all documentation must be collated, research noted, findings analysed and the whole package professionally presented.

And of course, in order to form the community itself, one has to gather in people who all meet the criteria as laid out – and in order to do that, one has to first put all the proposals in place in order that they may start to think about the possibility of living in the sustainable community living project (which is the recognised terminology for that which this needs to be in order to meet the governments guidelines).

Ergo.
In order to get anything to be recognised and understood for consultation by the Local Authority, I have not only had to try and present draft material, but try to put into place the full supporting plans for sustainability, including income generation.

All this while, I have been working flat out trying to get everything together, fully aware not only of my client's requirements, but those also of the Local Authority, EEDA, DEFRA, Inspire-East, The Guild, Business Link, the Workhouse and of course, the community itself.

I have been forming links and support from everyone I have so far had the opportunity of putting this scheme forward to.

The only problem which I have had, is in trying to access any business start up funding as these proposals are too large for the funding available to a single person – which has meant that I have worked on this project for all this time without any income – and have also had to buy a laser printer, domain names, website templates, graphics software, photographs and images, learn graphic design, website design and to some extent journalism too, in order to produce the marketing material to gain the support and understanding of all those businesses which need to be aligned to this project to prove its viability, otherwise, none of it would work anyway.

However, I do now at least have my own business!! - seven of them, in fact.
Welcome all in the community to “The Tree Ark Project”!!
 
CONCLUSION
We have a proven community with a clear company profile and image.

Once the organisational infrastructure has been detailed following our meeting 07/05/09, we should be ready to gain public recognition, and access the help and advise from the Local Authority as per advise received at my meeting with them in February.  I can also then return to The Guild and Business Link, to EEDA, DEFRA and to Inspire-East.

The links have been formed with local college, Cambridge University, and people in our own community have links through their work with Schools, youth groups, and others all supporting our community.

Still to form links with Rural Life museum, Woad Centre and the UEA – no time as yet, also need to contact farmer and the secretary of the common land.

Website to be completed – preferably with survey form working – no time as yet, despite continued attempts.

Outstanding:
4 more posters to do in the series to gain instant understanding from anyone.
the Guild's sample format documents to complete.
three or 4 more articles to complete.

And then we are at the point where we can go back to the Local Authority and put our proposals in for consultation.

Once we have some sort of confirmation from the LA, and in order to put in a planning application for the sustainable community living project, we will further need:

Purchase of Ordinance Survey map
Tree Survey for the whole woodland area
Site Survey
Impact Assessment
Biodiversity Studies for the site
Need to design 10 – 12 dwelling houses
Need to design dormitory/guest houses
Need to design Building forming the visitor centre, with all those included areas as in the draft proposal document.
Prepare a design and access statement
Prove the business plan and organisational infrastructure
(all of which will require grant funding, there is no way I could manage to do all the above and still work on all my other working projects, I have had a real problem working on all these proposals while at the same time trying to work on approximately 10 other projects, there are not enough hours in the day for sleep too.)

It is not possible to sell off or even lease any plots until such time as they become recognised as being just that, ergo, only once all the above has been completed and we finally gain planning approval, will I be able to offer anyone the opportunity of purchasing or leasing a plot on the site, and no other way of gaining access to any funding to cover all the above until the proposals themselves are in a standard, recognised format.

Linda Beamish, 5th May, 2009.