architect's impression of a square in Masdar

A new six million square meter sustainable development, named Masdar, that uses the traditional planning principals of a walled city, together with existing technologies, to achieve a carbon neutral, zero waste and car-free community has been formally announced in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The first project as a result of the Masdar Initiative, master-planning has been undertaken by Foster + Partners. The initiative has been driven by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, and will be a centre for the development of new ideas for energy production. One Planet Living (OPL), a joint initiative between BioRegional and WWF, has consulted on the project.

OPL’s involvement at Masdar, where construction will begin later this year, is one of three major eco-projects it is currently consulting on that are in an advanced stage of development.

Sonoma Mountain Village in California, USA, is a 200-acre zero carbon, zero waste that combines the retrofitting of existing buildings to reduce energy use by 50 per cent, and the construction of new mixed use buildings, including 1900 homes that will be added without increasing the use of municipally-supplied water to the site.

In China, China Merchants Property Development is working with OPL to progress a mixed-use site with the capacity for a community of 20,000 people in the Panyu district of Guangzhou.

The word community is a key one for BioRegional executive director Sue Riddlestone. “It always communities not homes,” she says. “Anyone can build a house, but what we strive to create in the projects we work on in the UK and abroad is a community. It’s a holistic approach that incorporates every facet of what makes a community gel, from the way buildings are constructed, to the materials selected, to how residents are encouraged to interact through communal spaces and sharing of resources, such as transportation.”

homes at BedZED

The physical manifestation of Riddlestone’s philosophy is the award winning BedZED, located in Wallington, Surrey, England. Developed by the Peabody Trust and BioRegional, and designed by Bill Dunster Architects, BedZED is the acknowledged leading model of urban sustainability in the UK.

Conceived by Riddlestone and her former co-director Pooran Desai in 1997, the first residents moved in to the homes in 2002. Progressive initiatives employed include energy efficient design, such as the iconic coloured rooftop wind cowls that provide wind-powered ventilation, and an onsite CHP unit fuelled by biomass (although it is currently inoperative).

Following BedZED’s success, BioRegional Quintain Limited (BQL), a residentially led developer, was formed. BioRegional co-founder Desai is now sustainability director at BQL. Working with the public sector and private housebuilders, BQL has a joint venture agreement with Crest Nicholson PLC to develop Brighton New England Quarter, Brighton, England.

Already in construction using the 10 OPL principles, phase one of the total 172 apartments has already been sold. Phase two will be marketed in spring 2008. On completion Brighton New England Quarter is expected to reach level five of the Code for Sustainable Homes.

BQL is also partner developing a regeneration project, Middlehaven, on the River Tees in Middlesbrough, England. In total 750 homes will be built to OPL principles, with zero carbon and zero waste ambitions underpinning the project.

architect's impression of One Gallions

BQL has also won a competition, organised by Mayor Livingstone, as part of a consortium that includes Crest Nicholson to build the flagship zero-carbon development One Gallions in East London, England. Development is expected to commence in late 2008.

BQL is actively seeking other sites, notably in Surrey and the Thames Gateway, where alongside Bioregional it aims to develop Z-squared a zero carbon, zero waste development for 5,000 people.

BioRegional’s work encompasses the gamut of sustainability not just the built environment. A forestry programme, regional charcoal production, reclamation of construction materials and the planting of lavender fields in Surrey are just some of the enterprises it has undertaken.

The organisation is currently looking at the feasibility of retrofitting several hundred homes in the area local to BedZED, where BoRegional has offices, Hackbridge, Surrey. Those interested in visiting BedZED can do so on a guided tour, which are run on a weekly basis.

BedZED homes can often be found for sale on the BioRegional website.