South Lakeland Sustainable Business Awards
Brief Description of High Carley Project
(What is your company doing to establish or implement environmentally sustainable policies and processes?)
High Carley is a derelict 11-acre site near Ulverston. High Carley Adventures plan to convert this
former TB isolation hospital into a showcase of environmentally sustainable development. It has
been a white elephant for years, and there is growing local support to do something imaginative.
We are taking the Rio Earth Summit Agenda 21 principles (and also those from UN Habitat) and
designing a new form of settlement from the ground up that exactly implements these principles.
The community as developed will be a model of best practice in environmental processes, e.g.:
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Low density housing, with room to breathe, work, play, and grow lots of good food.
A case study of restoration – turning a derelict, polluted site into a model of ideal living.
Harmonious and beautiful building designs which lift the spirits of residents and visitors.
Beautiful trees, gardens, water features (ponds, canals, fountains, bridges), sculptures and art.
These natural features will all provide habitat to encourage an abundance of wild life.
Sustainable energy sources (sun, wind, biomass), and best practice in energy management.
Onsite waste recycling and treatment, including composting of biomass and human waste.
Buildings with locally sourced natural materials, designed for low energy consumption.
Use of self-build to maximise community participation and minimise building costs.
Timber frames + claystraw walls. Ultra energy efficient, absorbs CO2, resists earthquakes.
Co-housing to create shared resources (work, transport, recreation), reducing duplication.
Facilities to encourage on-site working (e.g. Internet) and minimise waste transport use.
Location of Project:
Site of former TB Isolation Hospital at High Carley, near Ulverston, Cumbria.
What benefits will the company / local community gain from the project?
(Why do you believe this project should gain an Award?)
The company expects to gain recognition from pioneering a landmark project which is a model of
successful community living and economically / ecologically viable development of marginal land.
Success will lead to consultancy and training work helping to implement these principles elsewhere.
The local community will gain a very beautiful place to live, visit and work – including:
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A mix of housing (public, private) suitable for a good balance of residents and visitors.
A proposed home in which disadvantaged children can grow up in an enriched atmosphere.
A health care centre promoting natural approaches to health, fitness, vitality and longevity.
A visitors centre with training facilities so others can come, see, enjoy, learn and replicate.
An unusual tourist attraction teaching ecological awareness in the rich Lakes environment.
The environmental faculty and campus for the proposed new University of Cumbria.
A Zero Emissions Research Institute (ZERI) for local industry and reforesting the Lakes.
A leading centre in the world network of environmental research, education and projects.
A community promoting participation, networking, consensus, innovation, empowerment.
Restaurants, performance spaces, more celebrations and community events, and lots of fun.
The opportunity to participate in a great experiment for the upliftment of human beings.
High Carley Eco-village Project
South Lakeland Sustainable Business Awards
Which Category are you applying for? New.
No of Employees: 2 so far.
How long trading? Startup – project mooted October ’96, site located Summer ’97.
Demonstration of sustainable development
The Rio Summit 'Agenda 21' and the UN Habitat propose a very different vision of living for
mankind than the way we live now – which in any case we know is unsustainable. So how can we
live in ways that help us achieve our personal aspirations, and the desire for sustainable evolution?
We all have a role to play in making sustainable development possible. This will be a community in
which every resident, every visitor, supplier and customer, and all the local population have the
opportunity to participate fully in establishing and enhancing a way of living which supports human
and planetary well being. It demonstrates that sustainable development is not just a truly realistic
goal, but downright necessary, totally achievable, and, in its truly realised state, simply brilliant.
Evidence of environmental “good practice”
This whole development is a creative synthesis of environmental, social and economic best practice.
Involvement of local community and working in partnership with others
The creation of an eco-village as a model community can only happen with the full involvement of
the community that it will serve and live amongst. Initially though, this concept was developed as an
abstract idea by a small partnership of environmentalists, business people and public servants.
On investigating the suitability of the High Carley site, we found local planners were enthusiastic
and supportive. Research within the local community to explore attitudes towards our project has
found residents, businesses, public servants, organisations have become increasingly interested and
wanting to be involved. This has enriched the proposals even before implementation – for instance
the suggestion for a children’s home. It has identified a wealth of creative talent and environmental
and community awareness amongst local services and craftspeople, for potential partnerships.
As the project shifts to implementation, local advice and enthusiasm is helping us refine our plans so
they more closely meet local needs and augment other local initiatives for revitalisation and
regeneration. We expect and welcome ongoing and increasing local participation and are now
inviting local endorsement to support our proposal. This will help to raise the necessary short and
long-term finance for this project and carry it towards successful implementation.
Where did you hear of the Awards?
At SLDC’s ‘Is the Environment an Issue for your Business?’ event, 10th December 1998.
Contact:
David Saunders / Margaret Bell
Hillward, Newby Bridge Road, Windermere, Cumbria LA23 3PR
Telephone 015394 43577 and 01695 51018 / 0181 981 2120
Email: david.saunders@dns.org.uk / margaret.bell@virgin.net
World Wide Web: http://www.dns.org/HighCarley.htm
High Carley Eco-village Project
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