Ecostessey Park is a development of 22 zero-carbon ‘eco-chic’ town houses set on a private estate on the banks of the River Tud, surrounded by fishing lakes and open countryside, three miles from Norwich city centre. Eco-features include solar and PV, rainwater storage and reuse, and dedicated recycling and composting areas.

• zero-carbon

Energy from Ecotricity windfarm (REGO certified). Each ‘warm technology’ room is a completely insulated cell with independent heating. Heat recovery system. Solar panels and photovoltaic panels will deliver one kilowatt back into national grid.

• zero-waste

Dedicated recycling and composting areas within the development. In individual homes waste compactors and a waste disposal unit for non-bio waste - which will go into the sewage treatment system rather than landfill – are fitted.

• sustainable water

Flat roofs are designed to catch rainwater that will be stored and pumped into homes for WC flushing. Taps and showers fitted with regulators, and WC has dual flush, all to lower water consumption. Ground level areas are designed so that ground water goes into soakaways. Drought resistant shrubs and flowers will be planted.

• local and sustainable building materials

Materials sourced from local suppliers wherever possible. Total recycling programme for waste building materials, such as wood, plastic, plaster and hardcore.

• sustainable transport

Site was chosen for its proximity to bus and cycle routes - park & ride facility nearby for city centre access three miles away. Dedicated bicycle storage within development and individual garages, which also have a socket for charging an electric car.

Fairglen is a groundbreaking development of state-of-the-art homes, situated in a former south-facing nursery just off the coastal road to the beach at Hayle. Working with the Government’s Low Carbon Buildings Programme, eco-initiatives implemented include heating and hot water from ground-source heat exchangers, photovoltaic arrays, rainwater harvesting and high levels of insulation to produce highly efficient low carbon-producing homes, which will be correspondingly frugal on power requirements.

• zero-carbon

The houses are orientated south facing for maximum passive solar gain, highly insulated, and have heat-recovery ventilation systems installed for optimum efficiency in retaining heat yet maintaining a high standard of air quality. High thermal value Scandinavian window systems have been installed. Kitchen appliances are high efficiency A+ and log-burning stoves installed. Energy provision is supplied from the renewable sources of ground source heat, and photovoltaic arrays supply electricity to offset that used by the houses, with any surplus being sold back to the national grid.

• zero-waste

The local authority has initiated a recycling scheme for non-organic waste; organic waste composters are supplied for use in the gardens and green spaces. Building material and construction waste from the completed phase 1 have been recycled by a local contractor.

• sustainable water

Rainwater harvesting is practised through the provision of an Aquaprof Rainwater Harvesting system, developed and supplied by DAB, which provides a supply of filtered rainwater to the toilets, washing machines, and outside taps of each property. Air-flow taps and low-flush mechanisms on toilets have been fitted. Permeable surfaces (where practical and acceptable) have been laid, a SUDS system installed and attenuation ponds have been created to manage exceptional rainwater runoff, which form part of the retained and landscaped nature reserve in the lower-lying part of the site.

• local and sustainable building materials

Local contractor John Nicholls Builders, with whom the developer has previously worked building 25 homes together two years ago at Tryhornek, near St Ives, has undertaken the construction. Timber is FSC certified and local materials have been sourced and used where possible, such as flooring systems and pavings. An aluminium standing seam roofing system was selected because it a more sustainable option than roof slate used in Cornwall as much aluminium is recycled, the smelting is done by hydro-electric plants and it is light to transport.

• sustainable transport

Fairglen is linked by level cycle routes and waterside walkways, which are being enhanced, as is access to public infrastructure. Homes have bicycle storage facilities and limited car parking. The roads onsite have been designed in accordance with the principles of pedestrian and humans generally taking precedence over motor vehicles. Large retailers such as M & S and Next are within an easy walk, as is a supermarket. Road, rail and bus links are good to Truro and other major towns, Cornwall’s airport at Newquay, and the M5 at Exeter.

Set within landscaped grounds on the site of the former Imperial Tobacco factory, Lakeshore utilises the existing buildings, including a Grade II listed, five-storey Cor-ten steel structure, which sits above a man-made lake. A geothermal borehole will provide heating and hot water requirements, supplemented by a biomass boiler. Low energy lighting throughout, A-rated appliances and sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) are being installed. Lakeshore also has its own Electric Car Club.

• zero-carbon

Geothermal boreholes provide hot water and feed the centralised heating system. Back-up is provided by a biomass boiler for peak use periods. Passive ventilation is a feature as well as an ETFE roof to the atrium which negates the need for heating/cooling in this space. Low energy lighting throughout, and A-rated appliances will be installed.

• zero-waste

The original building structure is being re-used. Construction waste is recycled on site (90 per cent of existing concrete has been re-used) and materials have been sourced from sustainable sources where possible. Kitchens will be fitted with separate bins for different types of waste, with an onsite recycling bank provided.

• sustainable water

Low water installations are used throughout in hand-basins and toilets, except showers. Sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) are used to reduce water run-off and the overloading of mains drainage. The new building will have a green roof.

• local and sustainable building materials

The original building structure is being re-used, making the venture highly sustainable. New materials have been sourced from local and sustainable sources where possible, in accordance with Ecohomes requirements. A lake onsite has been restored and the extracted silt used as topsoil within the site. Local labour is used, and a local apprentice scheme has been put in place in partnership with Bristol City Council.

• sustainable transport

An Electric Car Club will be available for the use of residents. Parking for residents is being provided on a licence or purchase basis to minimise uptake. Vehicle use is restricted to the entry road and car park. The remainder of the 4.5 hectare site is vehicle-free. A new public transport interchange adjacent to the site is due for completion by Bristol City Council in 2010.