Human settlement in Wales
Lammas Ecovillage
(Welsh:
Tir-y-Gafel
) is a
low-impact
,
off-grid
ecovillage
in
Glandwr
, near
Crymych
in
Pembrokeshire
, West
Wales
, comprising nine households and a community hub on a 76 acres (31 ha) site. Buildings are constructed of natural materials and energy obtained from renewable sources. Planning permission took some years to obtain, but has established a replicable template for similar future developments in Wales.
Development
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The project was the first ecovillage in the UK to attain prospective planning permission, and this was achieved in 2009 after a three-year planning campaign culminating in a public hearing.
[1]
The project had applied under an innovative local planning policy designed to support low-impact development. The policy required residents to live a sustainable lifestyle and substantially support themselves from land-based livelihood.
[2]
Concept
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The ecovillage is centered on a Community Hub, from which courses, conferences and open days are run.
[3]
It was constructed using local timber,
straw bale insulation
and locally sourced aggregate as well as incorporating various green technologies (such as a
masonry stove
,
passive solar heating
and a
wood-fired kitchen
). Funding for the Community Hub came from the
Department of Energy and Climate Change
.
[4]
The project has been designed as a replicable template - with each household purchasing a 1000-year agricultural lease from the organisation which provides them with autonomy and security.
[5]
Each household has access to approximately 7 acres (2.8 ha) of land from which they derive food, fuel and income. One resident utilises
permaculture
techniques for managing the land,
[5]
and electricity is generated by solar panels and a micro
hydro turbine
.
[6]
[7]
The nine
smallholdings
demonstrate a range of natural building techniques though there have been challenges over compliance with building regulations which led to some of the residents being taken to court by
Pembrokeshire County Council
.
[6]
These issues have since been resolved.
[8]
[9]
The site is listed by
RCAHMW
and featured on
Channel 4
's
Grand Designs
, Series 17, Episode 6 in 2016.
[10]
Post-establishment
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Since Lammas, the
Welsh Government
introduced a national low-impact policy, "One Planet Development", which creates a framework for land-based smallholdings and ecovillage projects to be established in Wales.
[11]
One house, built at a cost of £27,000 over several years, was destroyed by fire in January 2018, with a total re-build estimate of £500,000. The house was not insured as construction had not been completed.
[12]
See also
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References
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Further reading
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- Chris Bird,
Local Sustainable Homes
, Transition Books, 2010, p71 - 74
ISBN
978-1900322768
External links
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]