Last updated: November 2021
In September 2011, a new eco-friendly student village ‘The Green’ opened to students at the University of Bradford. The new eco-village "The Green" has been designed to incorporate a range of features to enable students to live in a more sustainable way. It is part of a broader sustainability initiative by the University of Bradford called 'ecoversity' and its development is clustered around a pond, which is a part of a sustainable urban drainage system (SUDs). The Urban Pond/biodiversity pond – at The Green increases the biodiversity of the site. The site has been designed and landscaped with nature in mind, consisting of grassed areas, a wildflower border, shrubberies and native trees. (ref 3) The £30.4million development was the first multi-residential building in the UK - and one of only 15 buildings worldwide (ref 7).
'The Green’
Source: http://gwp-arch.com/news/sustainable-student-village/
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Institutional green space
- Parks and urban forests
- Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
- Community gardens and allotments
- Community gardens
- Blue infrastructure
- Lakes/ponds
- Green areas for water management
- Sustainable urban drainage systems
Key challenges
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Environmental quality
- Waste management
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
- Sustainable consumption
- Sustainable production
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of semi-natural blue areas
Project objectives
1. implement a sustainable urban drainage system (SUDs);
2. creation of habitats for plants and animals;
3. slowing down run-off into drains (Reference 4, page 14);
4. Installation of a solar panel for renewable energy for heating (ref 7);
5. Encouraging residents to grow vegetables (ref 8);
6. Recycling of waste (both organic and inorganic) (ref 10).
Implementation activities
1. implement sustainable urban drainage solution (SUDs) (ref3);
2. creation of habitats for plants and animals (Reference 4) an Urban Pond – at The Green created in the central landscaped area as part of a SUDS scheme.;
3. Rainwater harvesting (ref 9);
4. Encouraging residents to grow vegetables (ref 8);
5. Installation of the solar panel for renewable energy for heating (ref 7).
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Create new habitats
Main beneficiaries
- Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
- Other
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Researchers/university
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Unknown
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Developer are Listerhills SSV - a Joint Venture between Hayat Developments and Welbeck Land (private companies). (ref 3)
Architect: The Goddard Wybor Practice (REF3)
Project manager: Spring and Company (REF3)
Client: University of Bradford (REF3)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The Green is the first phase of a larger £100m Listerhills Triangle development in Bradford’s Learning Quarter, which will also include academic and healthcare facilities in a bid to revitalise the campus and surrounding region. (ref 7))
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Corporate investment
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Environmental quality
- Improved waste management
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved stormwater management
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
Economic impacts
- Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Increased sustainability of agriculture practices
- Education
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. GWP Architecture. 2011. Sustainable Student Village Opens At Bradford University. Accessed: Source link [Accessed 18 July 2020].
2. GWP Architecture. nd. The Green. Accessed: Source link [Accessed 18 July 2020].
3. Pearson A. 2011. The Green, University of Bradford. Building4change. [Website not available]
4. University of Bradford. 2014. Green Welcome Pack. Accessed: Source link
5. University of Bradford. 2012. Ecoversity Highlights – 2011/2012. Accessed: Source link
6. Hanson Building Products. nd. Project Case Study: Sustainable Student Village. Accessed: Source link
7. Source link. 2020. The Green Bradford University | Stewart Milne Timber Systems. [online] Available at: <Source link [Accessed 18 July 2020].
8. BBC News. 2011. Eco-Friendly Student Homes Open. [online] Available at: <Source link [Accessed 18 July 2020].
9. Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 2014. University Of Bradford Campus Is One Of World’S Greenest. [online] Available at: <Source link [Accessed 18 July 2020].
10. University of Bradford. 2020. The Green - Accommodation - University Of Bradford. [online] Available at: <Source link [Accessed 18 July 2020].
11. University of Bradford. 2020. Accommodation - Coronavirus (COVID-19) - University Of Bradford. [online] Available at: <Source link [Accessed 18 July 2020].
2. GWP Architecture. nd. The Green. Accessed: Source link [Accessed 18 July 2020].
3. Pearson A. 2011. The Green, University of Bradford. Building4change. [Website not available]
4. University of Bradford. 2014. Green Welcome Pack. Accessed: Source link
5. University of Bradford. 2012. Ecoversity Highlights – 2011/2012. Accessed: Source link
6. Hanson Building Products. nd. Project Case Study: Sustainable Student Village. Accessed: Source link
7. Source link. 2020. The Green Bradford University | Stewart Milne Timber Systems. [online] Available at: <Source link [Accessed 18 July 2020].
8. BBC News. 2011. Eco-Friendly Student Homes Open. [online] Available at: <Source link [Accessed 18 July 2020].
9. Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 2014. University Of Bradford Campus Is One Of World’S Greenest. [online] Available at: <Source link [Accessed 18 July 2020].
10. University of Bradford. 2020. The Green - Accommodation - University Of Bradford. [online] Available at: <Source link [Accessed 18 July 2020].
11. University of Bradford. 2020. Accommodation - Coronavirus (COVID-19) - University Of Bradford. [online] Available at: <Source link [Accessed 18 July 2020].