Environmental Sustainability

Sustainable regeneration

The scale of regeneration in the borough is massive. We are building 25,000 new homes, community facilities, shops, space for businesses, and improving public transport for both new and existing communities.

This presents the council and its partners with a unique opportunity to ensure that all the new buildings going up in the borough do not adversely impact on climate change and are well adapted to climatic changes.

Energy efficient building fabric, passive cooling techniques, renewable energy, flood defences, water saving measures, green roofs, cycling spaces and recycling facilities are some of the features our new developments will have.

Many of our projects fall within the Thames Gateway area, and the government's Communities and Local Government office has set targets for developments in the area to be low carbon. The Greater London Authority's London Plan also sets policies for carbon reduction in new developments as does our own developing Local Development Framework.

Major projects

Barking Riverside is the largest development site in the borough and will become home to a new community of around 25,000 people over the next 18 years. Environmental sustainability will be at the heart of design and construction of the site. Key feature will include:

Carbon emissions reduction target of 30% above current building regulations in the first phase of development, moving to 80% reduction in the last phase in 2020-2025
40% of the site will be open space for residential amenity use, and will also act as biodiversity site for wildlife, and water storage areas in times of extreme rainfall
Materials that are used in the construction of the development will be made from more than 15% recycled materials
A maximum target of 30 litre water usage per bed space, this will also include rain water collection, for use in facilities such as toilets and landscaping - which will make Barking Riverside very water efficient and adapting for the challenges of Climate Change
Community based facilities in an Eco-centre - this will be a educational and environmental resources centre
Good transport, with buses, car clubs, rail links, cycle clubs common place
Green roofs and avenues will be constructed to reduce the heat island effect and create a cooler environment for residents to live and play in

Barking Town Centre is undergoing massive regeneration and will have 7,000 new homes, better shopping facilities, a new health centre, a new business enterprise centre, new community facilities and a learning centre. In summer 2005, the Mayor of London chose Barking Town Centre as one of 4 places in the capital to be an 'Energy Action Area'

This means new developments in the town centre will emit at least a third less carbon emissions compared to developments built to current building regulations through a combination of low carbon district heating and renewable energy systems.

Dagenham Dock is set to become London's home for green businesses with the development of a sustainable industrial park. The sustainable industrial park will include a flagship Environmental Technology Resource Centre for London, with demonstration units and incubator space. Key sustainability features include:

All new buildings will be constructed to the highest environmental standards and existing buildings improved
20% renewable target in new build
Businesses must prove their 'environmental credentials' - they will be encouraged to look at the triple bottom line and will sign up to a site-wide bespoke environmental management system
Voltaic and Closed Loop London are 2 buildings that have been completed - using methods including renewable energy systems, rainwater harvesting, passive lighting and green roofs. Closed Loop is London's first plastic recycling industry in London, delivered through the council and the London Development Agency. Voltaic, a private development, won the 2006 Sustainability Award from Building Magazine by following our planning guidance
Substantial HGV movements will be reduced be the redevelopment of the riverside wharves, also being promoted through the council

Regeneration and renewal|

Contact

Joe Baker

Climate Change Manager

3rd Floor

Maritime House

1 Linton Road

Barking

IG11 8HG

Tel: 020 8227 5680

Fax: 020 8227 5326

Textphone: 020 8227 3404

Email: joe.baker@lbbd.gov.uk|