The Parks promotes sustainable living through features such as rainwater butts, solar panels and recyclable wood products, and gives careful consideration to ecology. The scheme’s landscape will ensure that the wildlife and amenity value is preserved and the biodiversity of the site maximised. The Parks has received an Ecohomes ‘Very Good’ rating.

• zero-carbon

There is the option of having a solar panel installed in the roof of homes to help cut energy bills.

• zero-waste

Recycling storage has been specially designed to be discreet for pickup by Bracknell Forest Borough Council’s refuse trucks.

• sustainable water

Rainwater butts will collect rainwater from the rooftops for irrigation use on the gardens and communal landscaped areas. A balancing pond will provide a Sustainable Urban Drainage Solution (SUDS), which will help to reduce any excess water run-off. Bathrooms will feature dual-flush WCs, low flow showers and spray taps on basins to reduce water wastage.

• local and sustainable building materials

Kitchen units and worktops will be made from recycled wood products or timber which has been certified from sustainable sources.

• sustainable transport

Cycle storage sheds encourage the usage of bikes for local trips, and Bracknell train station is only a short ride away. Cycleways and walkways provide safe and quick connections to surrounding areas.

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.

Slo, a joint venture between Spaceover and Proctor & Matthews Architects, is the latest phase at Newhall. The homes will achieve Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. A range of measures, such as high performance thermal and sound insulation, reduced water wastage and reduced pollution during construction, will enable the development to achieve the highest EcoHomes rating of ‘Excellent’.

• zero-carbon

Dovetailing with the masterplan every street has been carefully considered to maximise passive solar gain enhancing light and warmth, and the homes have a high thermal performance. Across the whole of Newhall 20,000 trees and shrubs have been planted ahead of any development work commencing to assist the absorption of CO2 emissions. Owners can choose to install air/ground source heat pumps.

• zero-waste

Built in a streamlined process in the factory, the properties have a low-carbon footprint since deliveries to site are minimised and there is little wastage of materials (only 10 per cent of the wastage resulting from traditional building methods).

• 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.

• local and sustainable building materials

Recycled materials are used in the construction of the steel frames and in the forming of the window frames. The homes are highly durable and sustainable, too, with room modules being framed using galvanised steel with a predicted life of over 200 years.

• 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.