The sustainable suburb of the future

A trailblazing initiative to create the UK’s first zero-carbon sustainable suburb has been launched in southwest London.

Hackbridge in Sutton will be abuzz with ideas during a special week, February 25 to March 1, as people who live and work in the area get together to design the sustainable suburb of the future.

Richard MacCormac, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, Hawkins Brown and Baca are among the architects supporting the scheme.

Sutton Council, which has been at the forefront of sustainable living for over 20 years, is working in partnership with residents, community groups and businesses to draw up ambitious plans to turn Hackbridge, and ultimately Sutton, into the UK’s first ‘sustainable suburb’ - creating a vibrant community where people want to live and work, that protects the local environment and meets the needs of local residents both now and in the future.

Hackbridge Week is an opportunity for residents to contribute their ideas and suggestions for the area, currently a community of approximately 2,500 homes and workplaces.

The week features a full programme of events and workshops looking at the changes needed in housing, transport, job opportunities, health services, schools and community facilities, including:

• A series of speed-dating style workshops for residents and businesses to share their ideas on how Sutton can achieve zero-carbon status by 2025.
• One-Planet Hackbridge – sessions on how sustainable living is easy, attractive and affordable.
• The plight of local flooding and droughts – sessions on water efficiency, on how to use rain and waste water more sustainably, and measures to reduce local flooding and droughts.
• With rising energy prices, the energy efficiency project will show residents how to keep their homes warm while saving money and reducing CO2 emissions. Energy consumption is a key cause of climate change, and a massive 15% of the ecological footprint of Sutton; the project will also look at generating renewable energy locally.
• Zero-waste – a waste reduction workshop aimed at helping Hackbridge hit 70 per cent recycling rate and exploring the treatment options for the remaining 30 per cent.

Sutton Council Leader Councillor Sean Brennan said: “People living and working in the area are true champions of the environment and it is their ideas, their energy and their enthusiasm that will help transform Hackbridge and ultimately Sutton, into the UK’s first zero-carbon sustainable suburb.

“With the BedZed development, this area has long been a showcase for green living and Hackbridge Week is an opportunity for the community to decide how we make Hackbridge a better place for everyone. We intend to be blaze a trail of sustainable living for others to follow.”