Built in a contemporary Cornish style at the famous St Mellion International Resort, host to the 2009 English Open Golf Championship, these low-energy holiday homes, by the award-winning specialist developer Living Villages, provide an eco-friendly design that encourages people to interact and form real communities.

• zero-carbon

Solar panels and a log-burning stove will provide hot water. Highly draught-proofed building ‘envelope’, a layer of ‘Warmcel’ insulation, produced from recycled newspaper, will be vacuum-packed into a membrane in the wall cavities. Electricity can be supplied by Good Energy, which provides 100% renewable electricity.

• zero-waste

Segregation and collection of waste is implemented in line with the local authorities current recycling scheme. All leftover building material will be recycled; the slate tiles, timber kits and downpipes could all be reclaimed or recycled in the future.

• sustainable water

A £1m irrigation system is being implemented. Recyclable unpainted aluminium will be used for guttering. Flow restrictors to showers and wash basins, monobloc flow-restricted taps in kitchens. The site has been designed so that water runoff penetrates into the soil and the permeable road throughout and poses no harm to local waterways.

• local and sustainable building materials

All labour and much of the construction equipment and products are to be sourced from the region. The remaining construction expenditure will be within other parts of the United Kingdom. Much of the timber used will have FSC certification, where new trees are planted to replace felled trees.

• sustainable transport

Initiatives include an on-site car hire facility, a train travel discount to St Mellion for customers, mini-buses to and from train station and airports and organizing for luggage to be picked up and dropped off. There is no permanent parking outside each home, and all roads within the site are pedestrian priority gravel roads. Electric golf buggies can be hired from the clubhouse for owners’ use.

Campbell Square is an exclusive development of apartments and townhouses a short walk from Milton Keynes’ extensive indoor shopping centre, the Xscape leisure dome and theatre district. Milton Keynes has excellent public transport with London Euston is 45 minutes away by rail and Manchester less than 90 minutes. All homes at Campbell Square achieve the maximum EcoHomes Excellent rating.

• zero-carbon

All houses and the top two floors of apartments at Campbell Square have solar water heating. Photovoltaic panels generate solar power for lighting in communal areas. Each home has energy efficient white goods, low energy lighting in specific rooms and insulation beyond current building regulations. Each apartment and house provides space for a home office to reduce the need to commute to work. Homes achieve a maximum NHER rating.

• zero-waste

Residents at Campbell Square will have a full recycling programme for household waste. Kitchens are fitted with a dual-compartment recycling bin. During the construction of homes materials have been chosen for their low environmental impact as directed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) Green Guide.

• sustainable water

A communal rainwater collection and distribution system serves all gardens, balconies, terraces and courtyard planters. Rain is collected from roofs and courtyards and pumped to outdoor taps and to a water-efficient timed irrigation system. Grey water is treated and also used for irrigation. Low-flush toilets and water-efficient white goods are installed as standard. Green roofs are a feature to selected plots.

• local and sustainable building materials

More than 75% of timber used at Campbell Square is sourced from sustainable forestry certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forestry Certification (PEFC).

• sustainable transport

Campbell Square is designed as a largely car-free public realm with underground parking below landscaped courtyards. A cycle store and foldaway bicycle is provided with each home to encourage use of Milton Keynes’ town-wide cycle network.

Located adjacent to a narrow canal the stylish eco-friendly homes have a ‘floating’ mezzanine floor overlooking the main open-plan living area which has a full width balcony overlooking the water. The homes are estimated to use around 35 per cent less energy and 25 per cent less water compared with the average new home built in the past five years.

• zero-carbon

The Buildings have optimum orientation and large windows for passive solar gain in winter. High insulation values have been achieved through air-tightness and dense block construction to retain heat (and keep the homes cool in summer). Solar thermal panels will heat water; high efficiency gas boilers will heat the homes. Low energy fittings and only ’A‘ rated electrical appliances throughout have been fitted.

• zero-waste

Approximately 80 per cent of construction materials (including steel and brick) from the demolished buildings previously on the site has been reused in an innovative way. Large recycling areas are currently provided with a provision for increased future recycling of non-biodegradable waste materials.

• sustainable water

Rainwater is harvested and stored for flushing toilets. Sedum roofs to lessen rainwater run-off have been used in part of the development.

• local and sustainable building materials

Local contractors and local labour were used including a programme with artists that involve unemployed groups and asylum seekers. Much of the aggregate for groundwork was crushed from debris on site. Roof materials are from aluminium, much of which was from recycled material. Sustainable timber has been used in the homes’ interiors.

• sustainable transport

The scheme has designed to reduce car usage through creation of a canalside pedestrian bridge and footpaths created to provide a direct and attractive link to the city centre and bus routes. Additionally, much of the accommodation has been conceived as is live/work space thus reducing car use, and the site layout severely restricts vehicle speeds and encourages pedestrian priority.