Hockerton Housing Project has won one of the categories (not for profit) of Eurosolar UK Awards (2000).
The Eurosolar UK Prizes are awarded each year (for the last 5 years) to those who have given outstanding service to the promotion of renewable energy including categories for local authorities, companies, individuals, engineers, architects, owners of renewable energy plants, authors and organisations. In the context of these awards, solar energy or renewable energy means energy derived from the sun, whether directly or indirectly, through weather systems (such as wind and hydropower) or crops. The aim is to promote renewable energy for widespread replication and public acceptance.
The judges looked for systems and projects that are inspiring and that can be reproduced. Winners will have demonstrated vision, persistence and ability to introduce and succeed with their project.
Judges comments on HHP:
“The integrated approach to living was very impressive and the low-impact ethos has considerable appeal. It is an important demonstration of the possible in a realistic context and is the strongest of a very strong field”.
“An extremely commendable project, which has had to persist and fight for its success. The whole system, which includes a reasonable amount of ‘lifestyle’ provides an example of future living standards”.
The award ceremony will be at Lord’s Cricket ground on 14th November as part of a ‘Sustainability in Public Services’ conference.
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.
The Newark Advertiser covers this month’s voting on our wind turbine, bringing success after five years of planning applications…
Conservation pioneers were celebrating this week after winning a five year battle to build an 85ft wind turbine to power their homes.
Newark and Sherwood District Council’s planning committee backed the Hockerton Housing Project’s latest bid to erect the electricity generating windmill at its meeting.
The proposals, which have divided opinion in Hockerton, were approved by the narrowest of margins – the committee finding in favour of the turbine four votes to three, with one abstention.
Residents of the project have been seeking approval for the scheme since January 1995 and have seen three applications fail.
An appeal to the Department of the Environment against the rejection of their application in August 1995 was dismissed on the grounds the turbine would be an eyesore.
But Mrs Trudi White, a Hockerton Housing Project resident, said the mood at the development was now jubilant.
“It is just fantastic. We have struggled for so long for this, repeatedly hitting our head against a brick wall and having to contend with some very nasty personal comments from objectors.
“We have continued because we believe it to be the right thing to do.”
Mrs White said the residents needed to raise £10,000 to build the turbine but they hoped to have it in place on Mystery Hill next year.
And she said she hoped the animosity between the supporters and objectors would subside.
“What I hope is that, in time, a lot of the concerns will be alleviated. I think people will realise there has been a lot of fuss about nothing.”
At last week’s planning meeting the turbine plan was criticised by the committee’s Conservative members.
Mr Keith Sheppard (Con) said although the Hockerton Housing Project residents would benefit from the turbine, it would be at a cost to other locals.
“It is going to be catering for them but at a price for the village. This structure of 80-odd foot only benefits five houses. If it was going to supply the village I could understand it, but it is not,” he said.
Mr Vincent Dobson (Con) said: “This is going to be a monster. What consideration have we got for the people that live close to it? I think it is outrageous,” he said.
Mrs Sylvia Michael (Con), whose Caunton ward includes the Hockerton site, also addressed the meeting.
She urged members to think carefully before making any decision and said she supported Hockerton Parish Council which objected to the scheme on visual grounds.
“Two hundred metres away from the nearest property is not very far for something that towers 85ft into the sky.”
But council leader Mr Stan Crawford (Lab), chairman of the Newark and Sherwood Energy Agency, strongly defended the turbine plan.
“It is about the future, not only of their families, but others and the wider community and, in fact, the planet.
“I think there is a lot of fear of the unknown. We are talking about the final piece of the jigsaw in a very innovative project.”
The successful completion of the houses is a result of five years planning, building and development. The launch day was an opportunity to celebrate our achievement and say thank you to all those who have been involved in the project.
It also marks the move towards the next phase of the project, the demonstration of sustainable living in practice. The focus for the project will now be to develop the trading company (HHP Trading Ltd), thereby providing an income for company members which is based on sustainability.
