Plans for the proposed J3 development north of the M54 reveal £40m worth of investment in making the new community net-zero carbon once completed
Helping Shropshire tackle its climate emergency and reduce the county’s carbon footprint is one of the central objectives of the proposed J3 development north of the M54.
Bradford Estates aims to create a sustainable garden village-style settlement on land to the west of the A41 in Shropshire, comprising of 3,000 sustainably developed homes and 1.8 million sq ft of commercial space.
It is expected the J3 development will create up to 8,000 jobs and boost the local economy by an additional £390m a year.
The project is also estimated to generate around £100m of new revenue for Shropshire Council over the course of development, which could be redirected towards vital local services, invested into other infrastructure upgrades and assist the council’s Climate Change Task Force to meet its target of being net-zero carbon by 2030 and beyond.
Bradford Estates’ managing director, Alexander Newport, commissioned WSP to analyse the project and make recommendations that will allow Bradford Estates to achieve its goal of achieving net-zero carbon status.
Look to the future
Newport said: “During the current Covid lockdown, we have seen a staggering reduction in carbon levels across the country, and indeed across the UK.
“As we look to the future, we need to ensure that we don’t revert to old habits which will return emissions to pre-pandemic levels. This means a new approach to considering the environmental impact of everything we do, including future developments like J3.
“Shropshire Council has been very clear about the importance of tackling the county’s climate emergency and should be commended for the proactive steps it is taking to achieve its target of becoming net-zero carbon from 2030.”
WSP analysis findings
The WSP report has helped Bradford Estates identify a number of clear steps which will allow it to achieve its net-zero carbon ambitions, including the community being powered entirely by renewable electricity.
WSP’s analysis found that a £23m investment by Bradford Estates would see 45% of the electricity needed to power the proposed homes and commercial properties generated using ‘roof tile-looking’ solar photovoltaic panels. The balance would then be sourced through solar photovoltaic panels in discrete locations elsewhere on the estate’s 12,000-acres.
Newport commented: “In addition to using designs that complement and are in keeping with the local area, the new homes and commercial buildings will incorporate inbuilt solutions to reduce energy consumption.
“This could be achieved through focusing on obvious details like insulation and monitoring, as well as utilising energy efficient technology such as air source heat pumps.”
Another key component to achieving net-zero carbon status at the J3 development is to reduce residents’ travel and to implement sustainable transport.
By designing an internally self-sufficient community, which includes both homes and a strategic employment area, the requirement to travel frequently is removed from people’s lives, leading to a natural reduction in transport emissions.
The plans at J3 also incorporate new local amenities such as retail, schools and recreational areas, as well as medical and doctors’ facilities further reducing the need to travel, whilst at the same time alleviating pressure on local services outside of the project.
“The WSP report estimates that about 50% of car-bound peak hour trips could be eliminated because of the adjacency of homes to schools and places of work alone,” said Newport.
When residents do need to travel further afield, the creation of strategic bus routes and the proximity to transport links such as Cosford Railway Station a little over one mile away provide a convenient environmentally friendly option.
In addition, Bradford Estates is preparing to invest another £16m to generate enough renewable electricity to fully support the charging of these vehicles, and/or through offsetting any balance through initiatives such as planting trees.
