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The project will establish clear principles, objectives and a stakeholder collaboration process to ensure that Harlow North is an exemplary environmentally sustainable development.
In the development of the plan for the town, global environmental issues and concerns such as climate change are seen to be as important as local issues such as air quality, biodiversity and the conservation of habitat.
The principal environmental sustainability attributes of the emerging plan:
• the largest development of eco-homes in the UK
• mixed use walkable/cyclable neighbourhoods – safe, pleasant routes and extensive bike storage
• a low carbon town with extensive, accessible public transport
• adaptable buildings with high water- and energy-efficiency standards
• BRE Eco-Homes 'excellent' rating
• local food and farmers’ markets
• productive landscape and open space
• enhanced woodland, wetland and grassland coverage and management
• renewable energy generation
• a combined heat & power (CHP) network and other micro-generation distributed via a local grid
• extensive recycling facilities in all domestic, public and commercial premises
It is envisaged that Harlow North would be a very low environmental impact settlement with a comparatively modest, possibly even 'One Planet' footprint. It would be one of the first in what could be a new generation of environmentally sensitive settlements - potentially the largest and most significant of its kind in Europe.
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