Eco-town is a government-sponsored program to build cities in the UK that are expected to achieve sustainability standards.
The eco-town program aims to offer opportunities to achieve high standards of sustainable living, as well as maximize the potential of homes at affordable prices.
This eco-town concept city should be developed with zero-carbon and can be an example of a sustainable area, such as energy production and waste disposal should not have a negative impact on the environment.
The city must be environmentally friendly, energy efficient, develop carbon-neutral made from recyclable materials and aimed to be the largest neighborhood free of vehicles, crowded pedestrians, and bicycle users.
The development of eco-towns in England is not that easy. If you want to build a city with this environmentally friendly concept, the city needs to meet some very strict development criteria.
Carrying the concept of eco-town, in 2008 Prince Charles managed to get permission to build an eco-town in South Devon, named Sherford.
This is the second eco-town model city after Poundbury, designed to promote the spirit of citizens and against crime, was built in 1993 on Prince Charles’s estate in Duchy on the outskirts of Dorchester, Dorset.
Unlike Poundbury, a town in Dorset built on Duchy of Cornwall land, Sherford is built on the private property of the Red Tree developers. The design of this city collaborated with a personal development consortium, including Royal Bank of Scotland.
When first proposed, the idea of the city was opposed by neighboring villagers, Brixton, by proposing 3,000 denials. However, the opposition can be conquered after the citizens are included in the design process.
As planned, Sherford will provide 5,500 homes near Nottingham built for 12,000 residents. Prince Charles advised to ban vehicles in some areas and three-quarters of the buildings are equipped with solar panels on the roof.
In addition, Prince Charles also suggested that the required energy needs at Sherford, at least half the portion, come from renewable sources, such as wind and solar power.
Sherford’s eco-town development project is expected to be completed by 2020 on rolling farmland on the lips of Plymouth and half of all Sherford’s energy comes from renewable sources on the land. Wind turbines will soar in the 400-hectare park in the city.
A workplace building that provides work for 7,000 people will have a roof planted with green trees or covered with a thin layer of debris to attract insects and birds to come. Organic plantations are also planned for the park.
Despite having all the latest ‘green’ technology, Sherford city is designed in a traditional English look. The Georgian-style streets are modeled on the Wiltshire market in Marlborough town and its designers claim that it was the first highway created from scratches for more than a century.
Establishing a building that has more than five levels is a ban given by Prince Charles in Sherford. The houses built there are designed for the most use of natural light.
It aims to reduce waste of material and to make more use of environmentally friendly and non-toxic materials. Facilities such as reuse centers will encourage recycling, pedestrian and cyclists to take precedence over the city’s traffic system.
Red Tree said that Sherford will improve future community development standards and in 2007 the application was ranked exemplary by Building Research Establishment.
Procurement of eco-friendly city or eco-town is enough to give a good impact on the environment. More and more people are trying to build their own eco-town. As a saying said that never doubt that a small group of committed and thoughtful people can change the world.
