Renewable energy will be provided via a biomass boiler powered communal heating system. Low energy lighting will be used and water usage will be minimised. Innovative design will exceed the energy efficiency required by current building regulations by at least 25%. Initiatives will encourage waste recycling and minimise the use of cars through the provision of cycle storage and a Car Club. Planting will maximise the use of native species to improve the local ecology.

• zero-carbon

Renewable energy will be provided via a biomass boiler powered communal heating system. 100% low energy lighting will be used in all housing units and public spaces. Insulants will be zero ozone depletent. Washing and cooling appliances will be energy efficiency ‘A’ rated. Shower spray taps will minimise hot water usage, reducing energy demand.

• zero-waste

All homes are being supplied and fitted with storage bins to encourage recycling. Building waste is being recycled as per ‘Code for Sustainable Homes’ demands.

• sustainable water

Spray taps, low flow showers and dual flush wcs are being fitted to each unit to minimise water demand. Onsite large volume water attenuation will allow controlled discharge into existing systems.

• local and sustainable building materials

An offsite manufactured structural steel system utilises components that have a low environmental impact, both in assembly and build.

• sustainable transport

Every home includes covered and secure cycle storage, to encourage the use of bicycles. To reduce the need for a first or second car, a Car Club operated by Streetcar is being provided. Residents receive 12 months’ free membership and can book a car on a pay per use basis.

Newhall is a community for the 21st Century; and North Chase is one of the current phases for sale. Newhall comprises some 250 acres of which 40 per cent is being left as open public space with no house being more than 70 metres from an open space. This phase has achieved ‘very good’ EcoHomes rating.

• zero-carbon

Through the masterplan every street has been carefully considered to maximise passive solar gain enhancing light and warmth; sustainable, renewable materials have been used wherever possible, and across the scheme 20,000 trees and shrubs have been planted ahead of any development work commencing.

• zero-waste

Open space at Newhall is maintained on behalf of the residents and all green waste is collected and composed and used in the planting areas once composted. All building materials are sorted and recycled as much as possible and waste is activity kept to a minimum and constantly audited.

• sustainable water

To handle the run-off from Newhall and adjacent housing, all surface water is diverted through a series of reed beds that purify the water before is enters the balancing pond and then on it to the local river network. This was put in before any construction began, and is now naturalised with a diverse population of wildlife, flora and fauna. In the properties, low water consumption dishwashers and reduced water measures in showers have been installed.

• local and sustainable building materials

Timber frame construction is being used with timber from sustainable sources – timber frame construction was chosen for its insulation qualities. Windows by Rationel enhance the efficiency of the homes because of their high insulation qualities.

• sustainable transport

A 15-minute bus shuttle to Harlow Town station will commence in 2009. The car is secondary at Newhall and the street layout, through the MasterPlan, makes traffic calming a priority with raised tables at junctions, trees in the highway to slow traffic and no vision splays making the driver consider their every move.

Shoreline is a new development of 10 eco-friendly, carbon neutral, architect designed townhouses located one street back from the seafront at St Leonards-on-Sea on England’s south coast. Each five-storey home has a ‘yacht inspired’ galleried living area which leads out onto a stunning decked terrace with a panoramic sea view. Eco-friendly initiatives include a combined air-transfer and solar-tubing energy system, and biomass burners to heat the main living room and galleried space areas. Every Phoenix Trinity home is carbon neutral through to completion of construction and the developer offsets the first three years of expected domestic emissions on every property built through a local offset scheme.

• zero-carbon

Via glazing, the homes are built to take maximum advantage of ambient light and the heat-harvesting potential of glass. The buildings’ insulation and heat retention significantly exceeds building regulations. Each home has a combined air-transfer and solar-tubing energy system, which slashes heat and hot water bills by more than 85% in the typical UK climate. Where space heating is required, biomass burners heat the main living room and galleried space areas. LED and low energy lighting is featured throughout. The developer has partnered with a local scheme that will offset CO2 impacts during construction with almost immediate effect.

• zero-waste

Hastings council operates a ‘twin bin’ recycling scheme for bio-degradable waste and non-organic materials. Additionally, residents can opt into a ‘brown bin’ scheme to have garden waste collected. Homeowners at Shoreline will be informed of the benefits of recycling, and literature will be provided in the welcome pack to encourage them to do so.

• sustainable water

Standard reduced flush toilets have been installed and the developer is exploring greywater recycling options. Extensive landscaping has been undertaken which will mitigate rainwater runoff with mature trees and further plantings surrounding the homes on two sides. Rainwater harvesting provisions (water butts) for garden irrigation purposes will be introduced to homeowners.

• local and sustainable building materials

European manufactured supplies and Scandinavian FSC accredited timber for doors and windows are being used to reduce transport mileage and embodied energy and for the reduced environmental impact. Local Hastings residents and a local civil engineering, architects and piling company have been commissioned to undertake all required works.

• sustainable transport

There are plenty of public transport facilities nearby, including local buses and St Leonards Warrior Square Train Station a five-minute walk away. London is an hour and 20 minutes away by train; Ashford International, gateway to Europe, is 45 minutes away. The benefit of car sharing is highlighted in the homeowners’ welcome pack.