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Portland development will have to be green
Posted: 06/03/2008
The former naval playing fields on Portland are being sold for £2 million to make way for a new 'green' housing scheme. The South West of England Regional Development Agency (RDA) has invited tenders for the 4.61 acres site near Victoria Square through agents Goadsby.
It has insisted that the new 'groundbreaking' development of 55 homes must be designed and built in a carbon neutral way, that there must be 30 per cent affordable housing and that a sports pitch must be retained on the site.
Bruce Voss, head of regeneration for the South West RDA in Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole, said: "Our role is to lead the development of a sustainable economy and because we own this land we can influence how it should be developed."
The Osprey Quay site, including the former playing fields and tennis courts to the side of Victoria Square, has outline planning permission for 55 homes. Thirty per cent of the scheme will be for affordable housing. The RDA says that most of the properties on the site will be family homes and not flats.
Conditions of the deal include a sports pitch being retained and new play facilities provided before any of the new homes are occupied. It must also be completed by 2010.
advertisementThe guide price is £2 million but the South West RDA says that 'the winning bidder will be judged on much more than price'.
Mr Voss added: "In considering the bids that come in, environmental standards and design will account for 50 per cent of our assessment criteria and the winning developer will be expected to work closely with us, the borough council and the community to deliver a high quality scheme with the smallest possible carbon footprint."
The homes will have to be built to at least level four of the Government's Code for Sustainable Homes, a national standard for the sustainable design and construction of new homes.
The closing date for tenders is noon on March 28.
The South West RDA is leading the regeneration of 33 acres of land it owns at the Osprey Quay.
James Tourgout / Dorset Echo
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