Environment focused
Sustainability is an all-encompassing term that goes beyond embodied carbon and fabric first approaches (maximising the performance of the building fabric itself). Part of the patient agenda are considerations around how we can grow whole places in a sustainable way and mitigate the effects of the development. This includes optimisation of land, on site energy production, water harvesting and recycling, biodiversity net gain, and as described above, low carbon materials from sustainable sources.
Environmentally friendly homes, using for example Passivhaus designs, reduce occupational cost, which means more money in the family pocket. This might enable residents to pay a bit more for their house in return for a quality product that is more affordable to operate, and that holds its value over time. A report from the Environment Agency4 states that improvements in the resource efficiency of homes lead to reduced utility bills, making a more sustainable home more affordable overall, particularly as the cost of sustainable solutions is falling rapidly due to technological advancements and economies of scale.
The report states that: "The quantifiable financial benefits of meeting achievable standards over 25 years are significantly greater than the likely costs. The payback period for achievable standards is less than the seven-year average stay in a house."5 Furthermore, Santander has reported that house buyers are willing to pay almost 10% more for energy efficient properties, as rising energy prices are becoming a greater concern.6
Green and blue infrastructure provides natural relief against flooding, soil erosion, water pollution and airborne pollutants. Trees and soft planting have a cooling effect that reduces surrounding temperatures. Spending time in nature is also proven to support our physical and mental wellbeing7, reducing health costs for our society in the longer run.
Common areas and green spaces can be creatively designed to support new forms of social and physical activities that reinforce relationships between residents and connects people with nature. Nansledan has a ‘food strategy’ that encourages people to think about local food production, how it’s grown and what individual households can do to contribute to growing more. Rather than manicured squares with ornamental trees, they have embraced community allotments and orchards and planted ‘edible streets’.8 Alongside private gardens, residents have access to communal growing spaces with integrated play areas that function as social platforms in the neighbourhood. This resonates with a more discerning resident that has high environmental and sustainability standards.
Bird boxes have been installed on homes, and bee bricks made from China clay waste encourage solitary bees to live in housing walls near fruit trees, to assist with pollination. Through these small and simple gestures, new habitats can be incorporated within the urban form to enrich the ecology of the place.
The Nansledan development has enhanced the ecology and recreational value of the wider area through the creation of Trewolack Meadows, a Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) on a neighbouring Duchy farm. This farmland has been restored into an ecologically rich and biodiverse space for the community and public to enjoy. An indigenous mix of wildflower seeds, sourced from local meadows that have not been altered with nitrogen, was sown to establish native wildflower meadows for grazing with Red Devon beef cattle who push the seed back into the ground, managing the ecology of the land naturally. Today, many residents in the wider community walk their dogs in this restored landscape, which exemplifies the kind of virtuous cycle that can be formed if we approach community building more holistically and consciously.
Flexibility of use through minimal regulation and easy adaptation can encourage communal activities that bring open spaces to life through seasonal events and other year- round activities. Activation and integration of public spaces provides natural surveillance that increases safety and the sense of safety, which can be further strengthened by cycle and walking links that open up to surrounding communities and a natural flow of people. Walkability is an important factor in community development, or we will continue to build separated neighbourhood enclaves that encourage unsustainable movement patterns and car dependency.