Eco-village with 800 homes could be built in city
Last updated 09:59, Friday, 27 June 2008
A ‘revolutionary’ 800-home eco-village is planned for the outskirts of Carlisle, The Cumberland News can reveal.
City businessman and Carlisle United FC supremo Fred Story has unveiled his vision for a 72-acre ‘sustainable community’ at Crindledyke, north of the city.
The site, close to the Kingmoor Park industrial estate, would feature 800 environmentally-friendly homes as well as community facilities, shops and public transport links.
Exact details of the size and eventual cost of the properties have not been released, but sustainability will be built into their design.
They could feature eco-friendly elements such as solar panels, wood burning combi-boilers and other measures aimed at reducing carbon emissions.
Mr Story’s Story Homes housebuilding operation is behind the plan, but he stressed that the community would be involved at every stage.
He told The Cumberland News: “This is a very ambitious project. It is revolutionary for Carlisle.
“We are trying to bring something to Carlisle that has never been done in Cumbria.
“This is being done in a prototype style in other parts of the country but we want to get ahead of the game in sustainability.
“We want to put a marker down. We want Carlisle to be ahead of the game on this.
“We will work closely with Carlisle City Council and we want to hear the views of the community. We will take on board what people say. We want them to help lead this development.
“This is one of the most exciting projects I have ever been involved in.
“We have got a good reputation and we are not going to jeopardise that. My name is on this development and I want to make sure I’m proud of it and that the whole city can be proud of it.”
Global design consultant Arup has been signed up to help direct the development.
The firm is the creative force behind Dongtan, the world’s first eco-city in China.
The finishing touches are now being applied to preliminary plans for Crindledyke, which will be revealed to the public at an exhibition in Carlisle on July 9.
A planning application will be submitted once a full consultation is carried out. It is hoped work can start within the next two years.
At 29 hectares (72 acres) the site is bigger than the Rosehill Industrial Estate, which is just over 20 hectares, and slightly larger than Talkin Tarn (26 hectares).
It will be the second biggest scheme Story has ever undertaken, behind an estate it is currently building in Dumfries.
The Crindledyke scheme is not part of controversial Government plans for 10 eco-towns across Britain, which have drawn strong protests from neighbouring communities.
Huge local opposition has been mobilised against the plans, culminating in marches and even court action to try to halt them.
But those schemes are on a far bigger scale than the one envisioned by Mr Story and many are on greenbelt land.
Mr Story added: “We are learning from what’s going elsewhere in the country.
“We are not using the eco angle as a way to get round the planning system. This is land that has already been earmarked for development.
“We are saying ‘we have a large site, what are we going to do with it?’.”
The first public consultation on the Crindledyke proposal is planned for Wednesday, July 9 at Unit 6, Atlantic House, Fletcher Way, Parkhouse, Carlisle, between 2pm and 8pm.
There might be a north western by pass close to this proposed development, but look at the plans! to access this would still involve coming out of the ONE access - presently a farm access, onto Crindledyke itself before being able to access the by pass. How is Farmland brownfield? the building will not only take place where there are present farm buildings and house but onto the open fields animals are still grazing away as I write, there is the old gas works in carlisle - very much brownfield - still waiting for a purchaser, plus loads more true brownfield sites e.g. St Ninians. Perfect I would have thought for such a development. Not so much progress as profit!! Belah school is now closing, where do the children go for education?
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If we really need lots of new homes in the future, and according to government statistics we do, then they should all be designed to use the least amount of energy possible. We do not only need âeco-villagesâ, but we need all homes to adhere to the highest possible standards to ensure we minimize the risk from global warming and ensure we can afford to heat them. If the council was serious in itâs attempts to reduce the âcarbon footprintâ of local homes, it could do worse than consent the wind farm near Cumwhinton which I have read could produce enough energy for 3,00 0to 4,000 homes. However, that would be joined up thinking, which government in any form is not well known for!
Posted by Andy on 24 July 2008 kl. 14:44