Claymoss Properties plans to develop an environmentally friendly holiday village at the Maer Hills managed forest site near Newcastle under Lyme in Staffordshire.
The 159-hectare (393-acre) Evolution Leisure Village will feature 800 timber lodges, two hotels, an 18-hole golf course, a central village area with a swimming pool and restaurants and a screened car park, so that the village is car-free, surrounded by woodland and two lakes.
The resort will employ extensive conservation measures to minimise carbon emissions and the construction impact on the local environment.
The green construction proposals include utilisation of green structure methods; re-use of felled trees; minimal use of concrete during construction; and lodges built on stilts to protect the forest floor and existing biodiversity.
Eco-friendly measures proposed for the village’s operation include recycling water on site; building recycling stations at each lodge and throughout the site; and 100 per cent self-sufficient energy generation through an on-site wind turbine.
The developer will submit a planning application to Newcastle Borough Council during the first half of 2007.
Joanna Gabrilatsou of King Sturge – property consultant for the project – said: “Evolution represents a step change in the creation of tourism destinations which respond to the dual challenges posed by concerns over the long-term supply of our energy and the need to boost tourism in the UK in a sustainable way.
“Evolution will introduce a wide range of measures through a Conservation Management Programme to protect the current habitat and to minimise disruption to flora and fauna, while also sending a clear message that Newcastle is forward thinking in its approach to tackling climate change and reducing carbon emissions.”
DTZ, Stoke-on-Trent-based architects Hulme Upright Manning, Enviros, Planning Solutions, Singleton Clamp and PPS Group have contributed to the project. Details: www.evolutionleisurevillage.com
