Northstowe to meet top sustainable standards

High sustainability standards at a development in Northstowe mean it will be a useful prototype for eco-towns.

According to 24Dash, the 9,500-home development on the site of a former RAF barracks will act as a test run for the eco-towns that will follow.

Buildings in the development overseen by English Partnerships, a regeneration agency, will be constructed to higher carbon and energy standards than prospective eco-towns.

Homes for 24,000 people at Northstowe will be built to level six of the Code for Sustainable Homes in keeping with the agency's Carbon Challenge, compared to the level four required for homes in eco-towns.

The Northstowe development, which developers claim is big enough to be self-sustaining, will have a third of its total area of 427 hectares given over to open space.

It will also feature 20 play areas for children, three sports hubs, one secondary school and six primary schools.

English Partnerships is also working on projects in Peterborough and at Hannham Hall in Bristol.