STSD - Somerset Trust for Sustainable Development

The Trust’s Future Plans and Projects

We aim to be a practical yet ambitious organisation.

We are very keen to become involved in demonstration development projects - housing and mixed developments, as well as community and commercial buildings - that show what good practice in sustainable construction really is. We are regularly looking at existing properties and new sites, both independently and in partnership with others, to assess the potential for such projects.

Description:

Somerset Trust for Sustainable Development – Sustainable Construction and Development Projects over 3 years April 2001 – March 2004

Contact:

The STSD office for further information and potential partnership arrangements.

Reason For Projects:

To continue to develop and build on the momentum created in the first year of operation of the Trust by carrying out the following projects:

Amongst our future plans and projects are the following, with more details of each of these projects listed below:

Sustainable Construction Database and website
Sustainable Construction Seminar Programme
Sustainable Construction and related issues Resource Centre(s) and Library
Sustainable Construction training courses and Centre(s)
Sustainable Self Build Social and Affordable Housing
Exemplar Sustainable Construction Projects
Membership Development, Co-ordination and Support
Exemplar sustainable energy schemes

All these projects are intended to contribute to:

"protecting and improving the environment for present and future generations"

"an overall improvement in physical and mental well-being"

"reducing social and economic disadvantage"

"supporting safe and sustainable communities"

"increasing economic prosperity"

Objectives & Outcomes:

The outputs are listed below numbered to match the projects listed above:

Sustainable Construction Database and Website
A project to establish a sophisticated data-base, accessible on-line, to provide information and contacts relevant to every aspect of sustainable contraction.
1. Database of best practice and information available to a wide audience
2. Interactive facility for emerging and new businesses in or related to sustainable construction
3. Signpost to promote the local Somerset environment as a place to locate related businesses
4. Downloadable checklists to aid in sustainable design
5. Sustainable Construction E-advice centre
6. An outlet to promote related business opportunities
7. An e-commerce facility to advertise needs and wants and act as a local networking forum

Sustainable Construction Seminar Programme
A programme of seminars and events targeted to provide appropriate training to experts and those with a general interest. The events are designed to focus on opportunities for significant change, and aim to make that change easier for all involved.
1. Nine targeted Seminar events, with minimum estimate of 518 delegates attending. This programme will raise awareness, educate and inform regional construction industry, businesses, Developers, Architects, Local Authorities, Health Authorities, general public and Village Hall committees, of the potential environmental, social and economic benefits of sustainable construction.
2. Summary reports of each event to be made available to a wide audience.

Sustainable Construction and related issues Resource Centre(s) and Library
A resource centre to provide detailed information to both the general public and experts. The first and only centre of its type in the South West. Information will be backed up demonstration models and samples of materials and products.
1. A temporary library and resource centre based in the STSD offices (probably in Langport). The Library and centre will be equipped in order that it can be used immediately.
2. A centre for Sustainable Construction and related issues with practical examples, products, mock ups and models on display.
3. A facility that can host small workshops and training courses.
4. Feasibility Study showing the best location and path to achieve a long term exemplar Centre for Sustainable Construction.
5. Report on replicability for scheme(s) in Somerset and the South West region.

Sustainable Construction training courses and Centre(s)
A centre with a focus on providing training and creating a base for a community of complimentary businesses with a specific interest and expertise in sustainable construction. The centre will focus on practical building skills using sustainable materials and techniques (e.g. timber framing and breathing wall systems; building with Warmcell and Masonite; fitting and wiring renewable energy systems; plumbing and fitting for water efficient systems; etc.).
1. Feasibility study and business plan to identify the content of courses, training providers and best venues
2. Report on replicability for scheme(s) in Somerset and the South West region.

Sustainable Self Build Social and Affordable Housing
A radical solution to affordable housing problems in rural areas is to training those seeking an affordable home to build it themselves in a sustainable way. In particular this project will focus on affordable housing for those with training and employment needs in order to secure multiple benefits from the project.
1. New skills training for unemployed people.
2. Affordable sustainable homes built, secured for social housing in perpetuity.
3. Young people living in homes in the areas they want to live in.
4. Homes for homeless people.
5. Report on replicability for scheme(s) in Somerset and the South West region.

Exemplar Sustainable Construction Projects
A huge proportion of housing and industrial units are built using pattern book designs, thus reducing design costs to a minimum. Sustainable design is therefore not currently competing on a ‘level playing field’. To over come this the Trust will commission a number of basic ‘blueprint designs’ from expert architects, which it will then be able to utilise in a variety of sites and situations, adapting the detail of the blueprint design to the specifics of the site and surrounding in each case.
1. A range of practical, costed blueprint design concepts that can ‘break the mould’ for a range of buildings: social housing; community buildings; light industrial/offices; market housing.
2. A package of guides for the refurbishment of key types of building: social housing; private housing; community buildings.
3. Built sustainable examples of: social housing, community buildings, commercial premises, schools, market housing

Membership Development, Co-ordination and Support
The Trust’s membership is a critical part of our strategy for providing education and raising awareness of sustainable construction issues. In addition it is a valuable way for us to gain detailed information on what information and advice people need to make sustainable construction the norm rather than the exception, whether they be individuals, builders, architects, large developers, community groups or councils.
1. A membership of over 500 in 3 years including: individuals, Public Sector bodies, Businesses and Students.

Exemplar sustainable energy schemes
Sustainable construction cannot achieve sustainable development alone; a vital complement to a local sustainable construction strategy is a local sustainable energy services and supply strategy. This project will focus on moving sustainable energy issues forward in a practical, locally focused way, that operates in parallel to our work on sustainable construction (and the Somerset Food Links project’s work on local food supplies).
1. Feasibility studies and business planning to identify most appropriate locations and fuel sources (e.g. biomass) for schemes for 5 market towns in south Somerset RDA (Langport, Somerton, Martock, South Petherton, Castle Cary).
2. Feasibility studies and business planning to identify most appropriate locations and fuel sources (e.g. biomass) for schemes for 4 key sites (2 x Yeovil, Wincanton, Chard).
3. A built example of a Combined Heat and Power scheme in Somerset using biomass as a fuel
4. A built example of an integrated wind and solar energy power scheme in Somerset