Launch of the 'Zero Carbon' Town

Many regeneration schemes claim to be sustainable, but Project Taunton is truly pioneering, setting new standards for others to follow. Aspiring to be the first commercially viable net zero carbon development, the official launch of Project Taunton takes place on 22 June 2007 when details of the groundbreaking town centre redevelopment will be showcased in full.

Unique in defining sustainability criteria and the outputs to be achieved, Project Taunton has produced a ‘Design & Sustainability' guide for development partners which outlines the commitment required to ensure its objectives are met. Setting challenging goals for reducing carbon emissions ahead of national policy and produced with the support of eminent environmentalist, Jonathon Porritt, the guide is the first of its kind and creates a new standard for regeneration schemes in the UK.

Achieving as close to zero carbon status as possible within a fully commercial and therefore fully repeatable framework is central to the successful delivery of high quality sustainable development in Taunton which can act as a model for sustainable development elsewhere. This aspiration is clearly stated in relevant planning guidance and development agreements. Project Taunton recognises this as an ambitious target and to achieve it will require developers to provide details in proposals of measures to reduce the demand for energy through good design, to supply energy as efficiently as possible and to include maximum feasible reliance on sources of renewable energy i.e. lean, clean, green energy for sustainable development.

Design:

With the creation of 14,000 new homes, 200,000m² of employment space and 50,000m² of new retail space over the next decade, the delivery team are determined not to let Taunton become an anonymous "anytown" urban environment and actively promote best practice for contemporary and imaginative design. New buildings and spaces will be of the highest quality and have a strong local and regional identity. They will be sensitive to the surrounding natural and built environment, use local materials and maximise public spaces particularly children's play areas. To ensure the high aspirations of Project Taunton are met, a peer review service will be undertaken throughout the design process by the South West Design Review Panel - an independent panel of experts set up by The Architecture Centre in Bristol and creating:excellence, the south west centre for sustainable communities.

Employment and skills:

It is anticipated that Taunton's regeneration will create in excess of 11,500 jobs and Project Taunton is committed to working with developers to provide a sustainable employment programme. This includes assisting local people to obtain the training they need to secure the jobs in the short term and to improve their future employment opportunities. Central to this will be the Genesis Centre at Somerset College of Arts and Technology; part of its DfES designated Centre of Vocational Excellence. Genesis is an award winning resource centre designed primarily to promote sustainable construction and the College will co-ordinate training requirements.

Biodiversity:

Project Taunton also recognises that wildlife rich environments create attractive, less stressful and healthier places to live and work in addition to delivering valuable services such as flood prevention, pollution removal and micro climate control. Developers will be expected to incorporate elements such as sustainable drainage systems and abundant use of trees whilst also maximising and maintaining riverways as wildlife corridors. Buildings will also be designed to encourage biodiversity, including the likes of green and brown roofs and nest sites areas.

The landscape, wildlife habitats, a rich public realm and the buildings themselves will be designed together to be fully integrated so no opportunity is lost to guarantee the future of Project Taunton even if future climate change occurs and temperatures rise in the future.

Talking about the importance of sustainable development and the significance of Taunton's plans, Jonathon Porritt said: "At long last, people are beginning to realise that delivering substantive economic improvements in peoples' lives does not need to come at the expense of the physical environment." He continues: "But most people still don't relate all that high-level debate to what's going on in their own back yard, which is what makes Project Taunton so very different from the usual run-of-the-mill regeneration schemes."

The event, ‘Taunton: future perfect', coincides with national Architecture Week and is being held at the Genesis Centre in Taunton. This pioneering centre is the ideal location for Project Taunton's launch as it demonstrates how renewable energy and sustainable construction methods can be integrated into the mainstream construction environment and is itself an exemplar of what Project Taunton is looking to achieve across Taunton town centre.

Speaking at the event will be renowned architectural designer and TV celebrity, Charlie Luxton. He said: "Project Taunton is pioneering and at the forefront of regeneration in this country. This is the largest scheme of its type and the first to tackle an entire town centre. Project Taunton is important because it demonstrates how everything needs to work together to achieve true sustainability."

Ian Franklin is the Project Director of Project Taunton, he said: "We are wholly committed to making Taunton a great place to live and work, now and in the future. But we realise we can't do this on our own and need everyone that works on the regeneration, including developers, architects and designers, to be equally dedicated to delivering a carbon zero development. This is why we have produced the Design & Sustainability guide and put in place rigorous measures to check outputs. Ultimately we aim to see Taunton become an icon for successful delivery of ambitious sustainable development, at both a regional and national level."

Recognised as a key social and economic development for the region, Project Taunton and the Design & Sustainability guide are promoted and supported by Taunton Deane Borough Council, the South West of England Regional Development Agency, Somerset County Council and the Environment Agency.

To find out more about Project Taunton or request a copy of the Sustainability & Design guide call 01823 250 809, visit www.projecttaunton.co.uk or email info@projecttaunton.co.uk.

Alternatively the Sustainability & Design guide is available online at www.sustainabletaunton.co.uk.