Sustainable Rural Homes

 

Future Roots will provide affordable self-build plots where occupiers will be able to build houses based on their specific needs. Plots will include enough land to grow own food and community building will provide a space for offices, workshops, and shares facilities such as launderette. Run on co-operative principles the project will bring the people together and create a sustainable community where occupiers will manage the communal aspects. It is envisaged that residents of Future Roots will reduce car dependency as dwelling, work space and land for growing food will be located on site.

 

[b] how the objectives cited in items 2 to 14 below will be achieved and maintained.

Future Roots will be managed on co-operative principles and plots will be leased to residents who will agree to follow strict environmental rules. Affordability will be maintained by keeping properties out of open market. They will be only sold to approved candidates from the waiting list at price reflecting actual cost of the building.

 

 

Affordability is one of the key points of Future Roots. With average house prices in South West being almost 10 times the average income it is almost impossible for first time buyers to purchase a house at market price. Self-build is an option where people can contribute their labour and therefore reduce building costs, however even bare building plots with planning permissions are out of reach for many. Future Roots will offer self-build plots at affordable price of £15,000 - £20,000 with only £5,000 deposit and the balance payable in affordable monthly installments (approximately £150) until paid in full. The plots will include reasonably sized gardens and growing own food will be encouraged. There will be also access to community orchard.

[3] The project provides public access to the countryside, including temporary access such as open-days and educational visits.

 

Future Roots will plant community orchard accessible to wider community and will run educational and community events based on the land and in the communal building. A number of community events have been already organized on the land including hedge laying and tree planting. The project will also incorporate existing allotments available to wider community.

[4] The project can demonstrate how it will be integrated into the local economy and community.

 

Site chosen for the project is situated in walking distance from town of Langport with access to schools, health centre, shopping, post office, library and employment estates. It already provides allotment plots to local community that proved to be very popular. Produce grown and made by residents can be sold via a number of outlets and markets in town.

[5] The project can demonstrate that no activities pursued on the site shall cause undue nuisance to neighbours or the public.

 

Activities on the site apart from ones associated with residential use will include gardening and occasional land-based community events. Communal building will provide office space and workshops for residents, however workshop usage will be restricted to low-noise activities, such as art and hand crafts. Strict noise restriction policy will also be maintained by co-op. Organic gardening with hand tools will be encouraged.

[6] The project has prepared a strategy for the minimization of motor vehicle use.

 

Each household will be restricted to one car and all vehicles owned by residents parked on site will be charged a monthly car parking fee. Money raised from the parking fees will be used to subsidise more environmentally friendly forms of transport. Car-sharing and lift-sharing will be encouraged.
Location of the site in walking distance from town of Langport is ideal for pedestrian and cycle trips. Langport also provides bus connections with Taunton, Yeovil and Bridgewater.

 

 

Buildings will be designed to take in account sloping terrain and minimize soil disruption. The size of plots will be in line with surrounding semi-rural residential areas. Innovative sustainable building design will complement Great Bow Yard development will make Langport area an example of sustainable living. Tree planting will reduce soil erosion and rain water run off.

[8] New buildings and dwellings are not visually intrusive nor of a scale disproportionate to the site and the scale of the operation; and are constructed from materials with low embodied energy and environmental impact, and preferably from locally sourced materials, unless environmental considerations or the use of reclaimed materials determine otherwise.

 

 

Dwelling houses will be constructed from local or FSC certified timber. Post and beam design will minimize use of concrete and soil disruption.

[9] The project is reversible, insofar as new buildings can be easily dismantled and the land easily restored to its former condition.

 

Post and beam buildings will be supported by foundation pads under the posts rather than continuous foundations. With this building method groundwork will be minimal, timber frames can be easily dismantled and concrete pads removed from soil restoring it to original condition.

 

 

Timber building creates very little waste and unused timber will be used on site for gardening and landscaping, e.g. building of terraces and raised vegetable beds. Non-toxic natural materials will be used for exterior and interior works. 

[11] The project has a strategy for energy conservation and the reduction, over time, of dependence on non- renewable energy sources to a practical minimum.

 

Solar array will be installed on the community building and individual households will be encouraged to use solar panels for water heating and electricity generation. Community building will also offer facilities that can be shared to reduce energy consumption by households, e.g. kitchen, washing machine, chest freezer etc. Space heating will be provided by biomass boilers or highly efficient wood burning stove with part of wood produced by short rotation coppice on site. All dwellings will include high levels of insulation to minimize energy consumption. No electricity will be used for heating.

[12] The project aims over time for the autonomous provision of water, energy and sewage disposal and where it is not already connected to the utilities, shall make no demands upon the existing infrastructure.

 

Residents will be encouraged to build compost toilets to reduce waste and water usage. Sewage treatment will be done on site using sustainable anaerobic digester system. Methane produced by the system will be captured and used on site. Rain water will be harvested for washing and use in gardens. Most of electricity will be generated by solar panels on site however due to northern aspect grid power will be needed in winter months.    

[13] Agricultural, forestry and similar landbased activities are carried out according to sustainable principles. Preference will be given to projects which conform to registered organic standards, sustainable forestry standards or recognized permaculture principles.

 

There will be strict criteria that residents will be required to adhere to, ensuring that the project as a whole is sustainable and has minimal impact on the environment. Land will be managed to organic and permacultural principles and use of toxic chemicals, herbicides, pesticides and other harmful chemicals by residents will be prohibited.

 

 

 

Organic waste will be composted on site (including compost toilets) and organic mater returned to the soil. Tree planting will improve drainage and add more organic matter to the soil. Chemical fertilizers will be prohibited and low-tillage methods will be used on communal land and encouraged in residents’ gardens.

[b] the conservation and, where appropriate, the enhancement of semi-natural habitat, taking into account biodiversity, indigenous species, and wildlife corridors;

 

Project will include planting of community orchard accessible to wider community, strip of short rotation coppice and wide screening hedge that will provide wildlife habitat as well as create a visually attractive plantation.

 

 

Planting of trees will increase water holding capacity and decrease soil erosion. Each dwelling as well as communal building will have rain water collection systems installed.

 

 

Trees and hedges including orchard and short rotation coppice will cover about 30% of the site. Some native trees have already been planted along the boundary of the field.

[15] The project can show that affordability and sustainability are secured, for example, by the involvement of a housing association, co-operative, trust or other social body whose continuing interest in the property will ensure control over subsequent changes of ownership and occupation.

 

A fully mutual housing co-operative will maintain the affordability and change of the ownership will be only possible through the co-op. Prices will be set to reflect actual cost of the property including land lease, building materials and labour indexed according to inflation.