Campaigners want ‘green plan’ for new library site
DEVELOPER AIMING TO FIND ‘SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS’
EXTINCTION Rebellion campaigners say an ‘environmental strategy’ is vital for the proposed transformation of Sherwood Library.
The new library planned in the revamp is designed to include retail space, offices and community facilities with seven apartments above.
A dozen new homes and additional apartments factor into the site’s transformation.
Owned by Nottingham City Council, the existing buildings at the Spondon Street site are in a poor state.
Working with contractor Hockley Developments, redevelopment plans have recently been put forward - but Extinction Rebellion Nottingham campaigners said it was important the scheme was designed in an environmentally friendly way.
Retired architect and academic Julian Marsh, 69, who is a member of the group, said: “Nottingham City Council a year ago published its 2028 net zero Carbon Charter and also declared a climate emergency at the same time.
“It’s a fantastic document in terms of the city at the forefront of tackling climate change, obviously we’ve all got to play our part in that.
“Extinction Rebellion have fully supported this Carbon Charter, we think it’s really good.
“Within it Nottingham city promises to deal with all the things it can directly affect, so all of its own accommodation, its own buildings, its own transport. “The library is a public building, it needs to be treated as part of the city council’s promise to deal with its own buildings and get those to meet the requirements of the charter.
“It appears to have put this out to a private developer to do it, who has not, as part of the submission, put together an environmental strategy... and an environmental statement as part of the planning application.”
Mr Marsh, who lives in The Meadows, added: “What’s important for us is first of all that statement and strategy is developed and the planning department don’t consider it until they have it in front of them so they can actually judge it properly.
“And within that we would want to see a proper holistic approach to the design. We are not trying to stop development, we are trying to improve it so that it meets the Carbon Charter.”
However, developers made clear renewable energy options were being looked at and said electric vehicle charging facilities would be available to every house.
Hockley Developments managing director, Alan Forsyth, said: “We have been delighted with the feedback to this exciting development in Sherwood from the local community and councillors, with us already having several families contacting us to be kept informed on the new housing.
“We have appointed an award-winning, Nottingham-based M&E designer to the scheme who are working tirelessly with our own technical team to provide sustainable solutions to the design.
“The team are currently looking at detailed designs including renewable energy solutions, for example potentially using sourced heat pumps and solar panels to help reduce the carbon footprint.
“We are also in conversations with several specialist consultants to look at providing rainwater harvesting.
“This offset would improve behaviours to reduce water demand. We will be providing electric vehicle charging to every house with an extra five designated fast charging points within the council car park.
“These charging points will be delivered alongside extensive cycle storage provisions throughout the public and private spaces.”
A spokesman from Nottingham City Council said: “This application is from a private sector developer and so where we have a planning application submitted, we welcome the representations through the consultation process.
“The scheme will be considered, and all representations will be taken into account, by the planning committee in due course.”