We were pleased to help and get involved with an Australian TV documentary team, who are researching the most successful eco-villages across Europe. We are one of 12 projects from across Europe that are being filmed for a documentary next year. Although we are the smallest of the projects looked at, being more of an eco-hamlet, they felt that HHP worked well in the context of eco-communities. Also with the group was an Australian town planner who was collecting evidence and ideas to use back in his district of Byron, where they are hoping to set up a number of varying sized eco-villages.

The UK’s premier business environment awards, the BCE Awards, recently announced its 1999 results. Hockerton Housing Project Trading Ltd (the Business Company based at HHP) has gained a MAJOR COMMENDATION in recognition of exemplary achievement with its environmental activities. BCE awards have consistently recognised the variety of business commitment to the environment to be found throughout Britain, from small to large companies, in the private and public sector.

HHP has managed over 3,000 enquiries in the last few years, including professionals such as architects, students and university lecturers, over 200 media articles, local government officers, and members of general public. The project has run nearly 100 tours of the project, given over 25 talks to various interest groups, provided advice and consultancy on low-energy house design, providing publications about the project, and supplied a limited range of ‘green’ goods.

We are very pleased to have received this award, particularly since we have managed this with relatively small resources. Hopefully our activities will have a significant impact on the way others consider the environment.

Today we took delivery of an electric version of a Peugeot 106 car as part of Nottinghamshire’s Millennium Electric Vehicles Project. Nottinghamshire County Council in partnership with PowerGen, the Energy Saving Trust’s (EST) PowerShift Programme and Nottingham City Council have secured funding of £300,000 to purchase electric vehicles and promote green transport. HHP has received a significant grant towards the costs of this vehicle. We would like to acknowledge the support and commitment for this scheme by all partners involved, in particular PowerGen and Peugeot.

One of the key aspects of the Hockerton Housing Project is sustainable transport. We have always aimed to reduce our use of fossil-fuels, for instance it was written into our leases that each household was only allowed to have one fossil-fuelled vehicle. We have also adopted car-sharing schemes, walking where possible and using bikes. However, one of our long-term aims has always been to make use of electric vehicles. Because we will have our own on site supply of renewable energy, via a wind turbine (later this year), we will be able to charge up the car with clean CO₂ –free energy.

“A key aim of the scheme is to actively encourage those in receipt of a grant to charge the vehicles from a renewable … If charged in such a way the vehicles will become net zero emissions, thus not only removing pollution from the point of use but, removing it all together.” Quote from Article for Public Service Review – DETR Journal (draft copy).