Lammas Ecovillage

The Lammas Ecovillage is a low-impact, off-grid ecovillage near Crymych in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, comprising nine households and a community hub on a 76 acres (31 ha) site. Buildings are constructed of natural materials and energy obtained from renewable sources. Planning permission took some years to obtain, but has established a replicable template for similar future developments in Wales.

Development

The project was the first ecovillage in the UK to attain prospective planning permission, and this was achieved in 2009 after a three year planning campaign culminating in a public hearing.[1] The project had applied under an innovative local planning policy designed to support low-impact development. The policy required residents to live a sustainable lifestyle and substantially support themselves from land-based livelihood.[2]

Concept

The ecovillage is centered around a Community Hub, from which courses, conferences and open days are run.[3] It was constructed using local timber, straw bale insulation and locally sourced aggregate as well as incorporating various green technologies (such as a masonry stove, passive solar heating and a wood-fired kitchen). Funding for the Community Hub came from the Department of Energy and Climate Change.[4]

The project has been designed as a replicable template - with each household purchasing a 1000-year agricultural lease from the organisation which provides them with autonomy and security.[5] Each household has access to approximately 7 acres of land from which they derive food, fuel and income. The residents utilise permaculture techniques for managing the land,[5] and electricity is generated by solar panels and a micro hydro turbine.[6]

The nine smallholdings demonstrate a range of natural building techniques though there have been challenges over compliance with building regulations which led to some of the residents being taken to court by Pembrokeshire County Council.[6] These issues have since been resolved.[7]

Consequences

Since Lammas, the Welsh Government have introduced a national low-impact policy, called "One Planet Development", which creates a framework for land-based smallholdings and ecovillage projects to be established in Wales.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Hundreds hear Lammas concerns and aspirations". Western Telegraph. 31 July 2009. Retrieved 2013-02-19.
  2. ↑ "Revised plans for 'eco-village'". BBC Online. 11 March 2008. Retrieved 2013-02-19.
  3. ↑ Sian Morgan (9 July 2011). "Self-reliant residents live the good life in eco-village". WalesOnline. Retrieved 2013-02-19.
  4. ↑ "Low Carbon Communities Challenge Winners". DECC. Archived from the original on 17 December 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Philby, Charlotte (10 July 2010). "Easy Living, The truth about modern communes". The Independent (London, UK).
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lonsdale, Sarah (23 June 2011). "Lammas: Britain's first ecovillage". The Telegraph (London, UK).
  7. ↑ Helen iles (Director) (2013). Living in the Future - Lammas (Motion picture). "Living in the Future".. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  8. ↑ Welsh Government, Technical Advice Note 6, Planning for sustainable rural communities, July 2010, 4.15 - 4.23

General references