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The UK’s first eco-town is taking shape in NW Bicester. The development, designed in line with the One Planet Living framework, will provide 6,000 highly energy efficient new homes, 40 per cent green space, new schools and retail and leisure facilities over the next 20 years.
Good progress are made on site thans to lead developer A2Dominion, Willmott Dixon and Stewart Milne Timber Systems. The first phase (called Exemplar) of the development will deliver 393 individual homes built using the latest green technologies aimed to reach the zero carbon status. The scheme also comprises a primary school, a local shop, an eco-pub and a community centre.
The Exemplar phase of North West Bicester has been awarded One Planet Living status by BioRegional. One Planet Living is a framework of ten principles designed by sustainability experts BioRegional to reduce the amount of our planet’s resources which we consume. This benchmark has only been given to six communities around the world, including Petite Rivière in Montreal, Jinshan in China and Mata de Sesimbra in Portugal.
The action plan which underlies the North West Bicester Exemplar’s One Planet Community status is organised around these ten principles, and focuses mainly on the period until 2020. It sets out a wide range of goals and targets. While some are aspirational, several represent legally binding conditions attached to the planning consent.
Initial ground works at the site began in April and with entrance works to the spine road now complete, construction of homes for the Exemplar phase and the combined heat and power plant of this pioneering development are now underway.
Commenting on the construction start, NW Bicester Project Director Steve Hornblow said: “These homes will be an example to future developments in establishing new sustainable communities. NW Bicester will create an outstanding living environment, providing residents with an exceptional quality of life for generations to come.”
Most of the building components are manufactured off-site by Stewart Milne Timber Systems. Thanks to this innovative construction system the new homes are being built with high energy performance levels and erected on site with reduced preliminary costs, wind and water tight within 5-7 days.
It is envisaged that first residents will move into the Exemplar in summer this year.
Source: North West Bicester | A2Dominion | Willmott Dixon