Environmentalists have ranked a new housing development as excellent.

Judges from Ecohomes, part of the Building Research Establishment, said Ropetackle in Shoreham would have minimal impact on transport, pollution and energy and water consumption.

It was one of 28 developments given the excellent ranking out of 1,684 assessed.

Ropetackle, a key part of the Shoreham Maritime Regeneration initiative, is designed in the style of a traditional fishing village and comprises 180 houses, a town square, community centre and a riverside walk.

The scheme is a joint initiative by Berkeley Homes Southern and the South-East of England Development Agency.

The development team faced a tough challenge in gaining enough credits to achieve the excellent rating and Berkeley Homes estimated meeting these requirements had cost an extra £5 per square foot.

Sixty per cent of the building materials were sourced within 35 miles of the site to sustain the regional economy and save on transport pollution and all timber was from certified renewable sources.

Half the construction waste was recycled and there are communal recycling stations for the residents to use. The kitchens were customdesigned to include a recycling bin.

Most of the houses feature solar panels on the roof to heat the hot water.

Wednesday, January 25, 2006