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Ecomotive at Glastonbury 2010 PDF Print E-mail

Ecomotive is at Glastonbury Festival again this year to help celebrate its 40th Birthday.

If you are attending the festival and would like to visit us, we will be in the Croissant Neuf field.

We have exciting information on Bristol projects and community land trusts, as well as advice and info on sustainable building, code for sustainable homes and energy ratings. 

Not only do we have all the information and advice that Ecomotive can provide, but we also have info on Ecological Land Cooperative (ELC) check out: www.ecologicalland.coop;  We have the Rowanbank crew who provide workshops and courses that inspire and empower, check out www.rowanbank.org.uk.

We also have 'The Bright Light' providing shadow puppetry, intimate stories of life and connections with the places we live, displayed through the timber structure.

Ecomotive setting up for Glastonbury 2010

We have been building the timber structure over the last few days, and this year we have been supported, by Travis Perkins with some FSC ply sheets for the roof, Tom for all the amazing plants, and the lovely people at Pieminister to keep us fed.  Land Logic Timber provided us with the timber for the structure, and Solarsense have kindly provided us a solar PV panel and kit, to power our tools and for lighting throughout the festival. 

We are of course in the Croissant Neuf field where everything is powered from renewables. 

 
South West Hustings PDF Print E-mail

Bristol HustingsBristol Hustings

RIBA hustings taking place in the South West region in the run-up to the 2010 general election.  These events are an opportunity to engage with candidates, and raise issues relevant to architecture and the built environment.

 

The Bristol event will take place on Friday 9th April at the SS Great Britain with guests arriving from 6:00pm for a 6:30pm start.  Details below.

 

The Plymouth event will take place on Friday 16th April in the University of Plymouth Roland Levinsky building.  Keep an eye out for further details in the next few days.

 

These events are FREE and open to all: opinion formers, RIBA members, students and the public, although places must be booked in advanced. 

If you would like to join us for these exciting events, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

Attendees wishing to ask the panel a question can submit their question in advance by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or by submitting their question at the start of the event.  Those unable to attend can also submit a question to the panel at the above address.

 

An overview of the event will be published at www.architecture.com/hustingsSW after the event.

 

 

 
Right to Build PDF Print E-mail
Right To Build – Crisis or no crisis, the right to your own home is for many the ultimate asset. The present slump in the housing market shows how dangerous it is to depend entirely on the corporate oligopoly market to create these goods: both affordable and market-sector housing currently face a shortfall. And despite Government rhetoric about design quality, standards of architecture, construction and energy performance have remained woefully low over the past 10 years.

What if we gave people the Right To Build? Publicly owned land assets – whether held by the Homes and Communities Agency or local authorities, and perhaps indeed the cheap assets that the public sector could still snap up from debt-crippled developers – could be devolved to Community Land Trusts (CLTs). Small or large-scale co-design projects could be configured with relatively limited seed-funding and deliver co-procured or actually co-built homes which are personalised and affordable because of the elimination of developer profit, typically 20-25% of development cost. Sweat equity input can be off-set against eventual ‘sale price’ of the home to the end user; this ‘sale’ could occur through memberships in the CLT or on the basis of a normal sharehold mortgage (allowing CLT’s long-term control over land) with a re-sale clause guaranteeing the CLT a share of value uplift. 

Right to Build from Lynton Pepper on Vimeo.

 
Quoin Building Wins Award PDF Print E-mail

Some of those involved celebrating the building receiving the award for Best Housing SchemeThe renovated 1960's office building has won the Regen South West Green Energy Award for 'Best Housing Scheme' for 2009.

Jackson Moulding and Paul Brana-Martin received the award on behalf of the the Quoin Common Hold and Ashley Vale Action Group from David Wheeler of the Homes and Communities Agency.  Jonathan Dimbleby hosted the prestigious awards ceremony in Bath which recognised excellence across the South West in a range of categories.

  green_energy_award_1_1.jpggreen_energy_award_1.jpgGreen Energy Award 2009

 
Eco makeover of office block PDF Print E-mail

The old office building which has sat empty for about 10 years is nearing completion.  The building stands in the centre of the Ashley Vale area of Bristol and is the final phase of the self build re-development of the SGB site.  The building now comprises six flats and the ground floor is a communty space and workspace.

The building has been fully wrapped up with 120mm of external insulation, all the windows have been changed from old metal single glazed to timber and alu clad double glazing, with window reductions on the north side and south side having balcony additions.

The whole building will have its hot water and heating powered by two 26KWp wood pellet boilers and 27m2 of solar thermal panels on the roof.  There is also 2.4KWp of PV panels filling up the remaining roof space.  Ecomotive has assisted in obtaining over £60,000 of funding towards the cost of the energy systems which is costing £90,000 to supply and fit.

  avag_site_sept_2007_048.jpgRenovation of AVAG office buildingquoin_building.jpgSolar energy on the office buildingRenovated office building in central BristolSelf finish homes in Bristol

 
An Amazing Glastonbury PDF Print E-mail

Glastonbury not only survived a few thunder storms, but is being classed as one of the best years ever, and that's by Michael Eavis.  Ecomotive self build structure

So in between Lily Allen and Bruce Springsteen, loads of people visited the Ecomotive stand in the Croissant Neuf field.  We had a couple of sofas, for people to sit down and discuss through their ideas about self build, and we had a large wall-hanging self build survey which over a hundred people found the time to complete during the event.  Overall we had a great time, and it was great to speak to so many enthusiastic people wanting to build their own home.    Ecomotive Structure.

The Ecomotive space included information on Future Roots, Pollination, Land Logic Timber, LAMMAS and the Ecological Land Co-operative.

We want to put out a special thanks to Rupert of Land Logic Timber who provided all the Douglas Fir to create the structure.  Not only is it beautiful wood, but it is locally sourced, and was sawn up by Rupert's portable saw mill.  So if you need any timber don't forget to contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it at Land Logic Timber .   

Land Logic Timber

Land Logic Timber

Land Logic Timber

Land Logic Timber

Land Logic Timber

       

 

We also would like to thank the following:

Folia for providing all the plants and flowers, and especially to Tom for bringing them to the site. 

Solarsense for providing a solar electric system to charge the power tools.

Travis Perkins for providing FSC ply sheeting and fittings.

B&Q for insulation samples and solar lighting.

Essential Wholefoods for providing snacks for the construction team. 

 
Ecomotive @ Glastonbury Festival 2009 PDF Print E-mail

Ecomotive will be at Glastonbury Festival this year based in the Croissant Neuf field, situated in the Green Fields.  If you are going, please come round and see us, and tell how you are getting on with finding land, doing own your self build or meeting with others who also want to do their own project.

 We are aiming at using the space to get those interested in self building to meet others, kind of like a hub, where you can exchange ideas and advice and to work out problems. pyramid.jpg

Self building as part of a larger group.

We will also have an interactive map of the UK, which will be used for people to identify the areas they would like to self build if they would like to be part of a group project. You can then link up with the other people who have identified the same areas and create your own group.

So if you are at Glastonbury this year please come and find us.

 
Bristol Community Radio PDF Print E-mail

Do you live in or around Bristol?

If you are interested in being involved in the creation of your own home.  It doesn't have to be to the level of 'Grand Designs', but purely something affordable with low yearly fuel bills, with a lighter impact on the environment. 

We are looking at methods of acquiring land in and around Bristol.  Would you be interested in being involved in a Community Land Trust, where a group of you share the ownership of the land?  Or would you prefer your own individual freehold plot?

Now is a great time to pull together and maybe try and get hold of land that the larger developers are trying to get rid of. There is still finance available for self build due to the equity increase in the value of the property at completion.   

We are assessing how much interest there is from those listening to Bristol Community Radio. If you think you may be up for self build or self finishing your home please register on this website (go to the login page at the top), and also join the discussion if you wish about the sort of home you would like to build, and the difficulties you envisage. 

 
Affordable Housing and the Rural Economy with MP Matthew Taylor PDF Print E-mail

MP Matthew Taylor launched the self build event which was set up by the Community Self Build Agency at the Eden Project. He has produced an in depth report on affordable housing and the rural economy. The Government has recently provided a response to his report.  You can download both below.Download the MP Matthew Taylor Report Download the Government Response Jackson Moulding and MP Matthew Taylor

 

 
Eden Project - Workshop seminar day PDF Print E-mail

Saturday 18th April 2009, 10am. Cownwall   £5

 Ecomotive will be present, along with the National Self Build Association.  Please see the Community Self Build Agency website for more details.

Community self_build agency

 

 
Free Evening at the Cube Cinema - Bristol PDF Print E-mail
DISCOVER YOUR ECOHOMEcube microplex

(Wed 8th April 2009/ 8pm / Free)

Martin Fodor and Jackson Moulding have been working in Bristol for many years
in the field of sustainable housing and building. Tonight they combine their
talents to present an informal evening of talks and videos at Free Cube,
including how to make simple yet meaningful improvements to your home in the
absence of loans or title deeds.

Completely free, intimate and friendly, Free Cube nights are open for all to
participate in any way they like. Bring food to share.
 
'NASBA Report' for all local authorities PDF Print E-mail

Tommy Walsh for NASBAThe National Self Build Association has just launched its first report to help stimulate greater support for self build across the UK.  The report provides information on the benefits of self build and recommendations for Central and Local Governments, particular in regard to the current economic and environmental climates.  We are providing copies of the report 'free of charge' to all new memberships of NASBA.  Its only £5 per year for an individual.  Please see the www.nasba.org.uk website for more information.

If you know of relevant people in your local authority who you think NASBA should send the report, (ie Chief Executive of the Council, Councillor responsible for Housing, etc) please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and provide their contact details.

 
National Self Build Association (NaSBA) PDF Print E-mail

nasba.jpg Ecomotive has joined forces with a number of key national players in the creation of NaSBA, which aims to run a series of campaigns to increase the amount of sites which Local Authorities, central Government and other landowners set aside for self builders.  This is a very exciting collaboration which could result in a real turn around in opportunities for self build in the UK.  Especially with the increasing concerns of credit crunch which seems to be taking more casualties every day, from individuals to large corporations.

Self build and self finish housing provide the opportunities for the creation of homes which are not only more affordable, but give the self builders the chance to create a place which has a low impact on the environment, cheap to heat, and designed to their own needs.

NaSBA has just completed a first report aimed at central government and local authorities, to bring all those involved in housing and land decisions up to speed with the current self build market and immediate demand for building plots. The report will also help those involved in the provision of affordable housing and those promoting sustainable living practices to recognise self build as one of the key solutions to address some of the current housing problems.

Those involved include The National Self Build and Renovation Centre, Bath and District Self Build Association, Build It Magazine, Potton/Kingspan, Architecture Verte, and of course Ecomotive.

Further details will be posted up here in due course, we'll keep you posted.
 
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