Approval granted for UK's largest wooded residential development project
In a groundbreaking move, Human Nature, a sustainable construction company led by former Greenpeace directors Michael Manolson and Jonathan Smales, has been given the green light to proceed with their ambitious project, the Phoenix Project. This development, situated within the South Downs National Park, is set to create the UK's largest timber neighbourhood with 685 new homes.
The focus of the Phoenix Project is on radically improving environmental and social impacts, a departure from the norm in 21st-century Britain. According to Jonathan Smales, the chief executive of Human Nature, the current mainstream model of development is catastrophic, and the project aims to show that living sustainably can be a joy, not an exercise in self-denial.
The development will promote a return to traditional designs, with elegantly designed buildings made using local materials. It aligns with the UK's strategic plan, the Timber in Construction Roadmap 2025, which aims to increase the use of timber as a building material to reduce carbon emissions and support climate goals.
The roadmap, a coordinated government-industry-academic initiative, positions timber as a means to both build the urgently needed homes and turn the built environment into a carbon sink rather than a carbon emitter. Key components of the roadmap include legislating mandatory whole-life carbon assessments, setting maximum carbon footprint standards, incentivizing the use of nature-based materials like timber, expanding sustainable home-grown timber supply, and working collaboratively with industry and academia to promote best practices and innovation.
The Phoenix Project embodies these principles. It is estimated to include 30% affordable housing, a co-mobility hub that includes electric car share, electric bike service, and a shuttle bus facility for those who may struggle to get around by walking or cycling. The development also includes plans to create new affordable homes, 3,500sq m of workspace, a health centre, community space, a restaurant, a bar, retail space, a nursery, an energy centre, a new footbridge over the river Ouse, a riverside walkway, and areas of public realm.
Before advancing with their new neighborhood plans, Human Nature consulted with local residents, community groups, and businesses to ensure the project would be suitable for everyone. The South Downs National Park's planning committee approved detailed plans for the first 44 homes last Thursday morning and gave outline permission for the rest of the scheme.
The Phoenix Project is designed to provide a new breakthrough model with sustainable design, urbanism, and construction. It seeks to create a place where daily needs can be met within a short walk, and it's easy to meet and socialize with neighbors. In essence, the Phoenix Project is more than just a development; it's a testament to the power of sustainable living and a beacon of hope for a greener future.
[1] Timber in Construction Roadmap 2025, UK Government, 2021. [4] The Phoenix Project, Human Nature, 2023.
