Here we are. One project, one town, one local community. Now I am going to explain what this idea is really about.

The main points I still need to clarify are where, why and how. I believe that the projects I have previously described (i.e. Zero Emission Workspace and Zero Emission Xspace) fit very well into the wider picture of the Tolworth project.

Tolworth is a small town centre within the borough of Kingston-upon-Thames and is part of the Greater London area. The Royal Borough of Kingston council set out a project in 2008 to help regenerate the Tolworth area and promote social and economic development and environmental improvement.

Figure 1 - Tolworth within Greater London

A number of specialist studies carried out on behalf of the council describe Tolworth as an area affected by many problems, such as traffic congestion, air pollution, lack of parking space, lack of a good mix of shops, sport and community facilities, a high number of vacant premises and a generally poor office-based business activity. Nonetheless Tolworth District Centre and the A240 corridor from Tolworth Broadway (to the north of the A3) to Tolworth rail station (to the south of the A3) have been identified as urban areas with great development potential.

Figure 2 - Tolworth within the Royal Borough of Kingston

The detailed description of the project is available as part of the document "Tolworth Regeneration Strategy", freely downloadable from the Royal Borough of Kingston's web site.

The main goals of the Tolworth regeneration project are described in section 4, paragraph 57 of the Tolworth regeneration strategy document. The development opportunities that best match what Zero Emission Project can offer are as follows:

  • Enhance Tolworth’s attraction by improving the environment along the A240 corridor, securing high quality new development, improving the range and quality of local facilities and increasing business confidence
  • Stimulate economic growth to attract new businesses, create jobs and reduce vacant office and business space, through new development and refurbishment and promoting Tolworth as a business location
  • Secure high quality new development (buildings and spaces) at key sites including Tolworth Tower, the former government offices and sites along Kingston Road; the document identifies two sites in particular, the Tolworth Tower complex (north of the A3) and the former government offices and adjoining sites (south of the A3) as having the potential to make a significant contribution towards the regeneration and enhancement of Tolworth
  • Enhance the range and quality of community facilities, especially youth facilities and space for classes and meetings
  • Promote principles of sustainable development and construction through promotional initiatives and through the planning process to improve energy and water efficiency and mitigate the impact of climate change
  • Promote and implement smarter travel initiatives including workplace and school travel plans and provision of electric vehicle charging points

In particular, several sites have been identified with significant development and improvement potential. As an example of how well Zero Emission Workspace and Zero Emission Xspace would fit into this development plan, let's analyse the opportunity foreseen for the area adjacent to the A3 and the Tolworth rail station, formerly occupied by government offices, Toby Jug PH and Marshall House sites (figure 3).

Figure 3 - some of the sites with development and improvement potential in Tolworth (click on the image to enlarge)

According to the Tolworth regeneration strategy, this large development area should accommodate (within brackets the possible Zero Emission Project's contribution):

  • High quality design with attractive frontages; for example, great potential for distinctive development has been identified on the Toby Jug corner, which could accommodate community uses on lower floors, with workspace, hotel or student accommodation above (Zero Emission Workspace)
  • Provision of high specification fully serviced workspace with business support to attract innovative, high growth start-ups with a focus on creativity/design/innovation and/or businesses involved in the green/carbon economy (Zero Emission Workspace)
  • Provision of community/leisure facilities to serve the Tolworth area, e.g. GP healthcare facility (Zero Emission Xspace)
  • Community centre with space for meetings, classes, youth facility, indoor sports facility (Zero Emission Xspace)
  • Low energy and low carbon buildings meeting or exceeding BREEAM ‘very good’ standard (both Zero Emission Workspace and Xspace would largely exceed this requirement)
  • Feasibility of providing de-centralised energy network to be investigated (both Zero Emission Workspace and Xspace provide a self sustained and grid independent renewable electricity generation system)

I think it is amazing to see how Zero Emission Workspace and Xspace are potentially great solutions for the requirements set for the Tolworth project and for specific development sites.

If this wasn't enough though, here is something more. Section 6 of the Tolworth regeneration strategy document describes the implementation and delivery details set by the Kingston council for the next ten years. Almost every point of this section is relevant to Zero Emission Project, but I think that the point 17 looks like Zero Emission Workspace and Xspace's manifesto. It reads as follows (my comments in square brackets):

"[The regeneration strategy] should

  1. Promote principles of sustainable development and construction through promotional initiatives and through the planning process to reduce energy use and mitigate the impact of climate change
  2. Promote opportunities for de-centralised energy networks
  3. Require new commercial development to achieve at least BREEAM ‘Very Good’ standard and new domestic development to achieve at least Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 standard for energy and water [both Zero Emission Workspace and Xspace achieve Level 6].
  4. Require all new development to meet London Plan targets for reduction of carbon emissions through use of on-site renewable energy technology [on-site renewable energy technology is provided by both Zero Emission Workspace and Xspace]
  5. Require new development to consider building orientation and passive solar design whilst being mindful of overheating - to include south facing roofs where possible for easier installation of solar arrays [both Zero Emission Workspace and Xspace will be designed according to the German PassivHause standard hence will fulfil this requirement]
  6. Require rainwater collection systems where appropriate to minimise use of potable water [a rainwater harvesting system has been included as part of Zero Emission Workspace]
  7. Promote energy efficiency measures to residents and businesses, including Energy Saving Trust recommendations such as the installation of enhanced double-glazing and loft insulation [this is included in PassivHaus design]
  8. Investigate suitable opportunities for wind turbines [it is likely that both Zero Emission Workspace and Xspace will make use of small wind turbines in conjunction with solar panels to achieve Code for Sustainable Homes Level 6 standard]"

Although the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames is the organization appointed as responsible agency for the development and taking on the role of supervisor, other organizations will be involved in the practical implementation of the strategy, such as Transport for London, Network Rail, the Kingston Chamber of Commerce, the NHS Primary Care Trust, the Metropolitan Police, the Greater London Authorities and its financial body the London Development Agency, local businesses, developers, land and property owners, residents and local groups and many others.

The Tolworth Project is a collective action towards a better residential, social and business environment in South West London in an area that has huge potential and Zero Emission Project can give a great and effective input in such process.

We have seen where and why, now it remains to see how it will be done. The next article will shed some light on the practical implementation of the Tolworth Zero Emission Project.