Lammas Ecovillage (Welsh: Tir-y-Gafel) is a low-impact, off-gridecovillage in Glandwr, near Crymych in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, comprising nine households and a community hub on a 76 acres (31 ha) site. Buildings are constructed of natural materials and energy obtained from renewable sources. Planning permission took some years to obtain, but has established a replicable template for similar future developments in Wales.
The project was the first ecovillage in the UK to attain prospective planning permission, and this was achieved in 2009 after a three-year planning campaign culminating in a public hearing.[1] The project had applied under an innovative local planning policy designed to support low-impact development. The policy required residents to live a sustainable lifestyle and substantially support themselves from land-based livelihood.[2]
The project has been designed as a replicable template - with each household purchasing a 1000-year agricultural lease from the organisation which provides them with autonomy and security.[5] Each household has access to approximately 7 acres (2.8 ha) of land from which they derive food, fuel and income. One resident utilises permaculture techniques for managing the land,[5] and electricity is generated by solar panels and a micro hydro turbine.[6][7]
The nine smallholdings demonstrate a range of natural building techniques though there have been challenges over compliance with building regulations which led to some of the residents being taken to court by Pembrokeshire County Council.[6] These issues have since been resolved.[8][9]
Since Lammas, the Welsh Government introduced a national low-impact policy, "One Planet Development", which creates a framework for land-based smallholdings and ecovillage projects to be established in Wales.[11]
One house, built at a cost of £27,000 over several years, was destroyed by fire in January 2018, with a total re-build estimate of £500,000. The house was not insured as construction had not been completed.[12]
^"Hundreds hear Lammas concerns and aspirations". Western Telegraph. 31 July 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
^"Revised plans for 'eco-village'". BBC Online. 11 March 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
^Sian Morgan (9 July 2011). "Self-reliant residents live the good life in eco-village". WalesOnline. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
^"Low Carbon Communities Challenge Winners". DECC. Archived from the original on 17 December 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
^ abPhilby, Charlotte (10 July 2010). "Easy Living, The truth about modern communes". The Independent. London, UK.
^ abLonsdale, Sarah (23 June 2011). . The Telegraph. London, UK. Archived from the original on 25 June 2011.
^"A new way of life takes shape in West Wales". Western Mail. 23 January 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
^Helen Iles (Director) (2013). Living in the Future - Lammas (Motion picture). Retrieved 16 November 2013.
^"Pembrokeshire eco village: Lammas film hits cinemas". BBC. 22 January 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
^"Tir y Gafael Eco Village (422827)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
^Welsh Government, Technical Advice Note 6, Planning for sustainable rural communities, July 2010, 4.15 - 4.23
^"Lammas eco house fire: Family 'still in complete shock'". BBC News. 6 January 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
Further readingedit
Chris Bird, Local Sustainable Homes, Transition Books, 2010, p71 - 74 ISBN978-1900322768
External linksedit
Official website
December 20, 2023
lammas, ecovillage, welsh, gafel, impact, grid, ecovillage, glandwr, near, crymych, pembrokeshire, west, wales, comprising, nine, households, community, acres, site, buildings, constructed, natural, materials, energy, obtained, from, renewable, sources, planni. Lammas Ecovillage Welsh Tir y Gafel is a low impact off grid ecovillage in Glandwr near Crymych in Pembrokeshire West Wales comprising nine households and a community hub on a 76 acres 31 ha site Buildings are constructed of natural materials and energy obtained from renewable sources Planning permission took some years to obtain but has established a replicable template for similar future developments in Wales Lammas EcovillageLammas EcovillageLocation within PembrokeshirePrincipal areaPembrokeshireCountryWalesSovereign stateUnited KingdomPost townWhitlandPostcode districtSA34Dialling code01239PoliceDyfed PowysFireMid and West WalesAmbulanceWelshUK ParliamentPreseli PembrokeshireSenedd Cymru Welsh ParliamentPreseli PembrokeshireList of places UK Wales Pembrokeshire 51 55 48 N 4 37 47 W 51 93013 N 4 62979 W 51 93013 4 62979 Contents 1 Development 2 Concept 3 Post establishment 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksDevelopment editThe project was the first ecovillage in the UK to attain prospective planning permission and this was achieved in 2009 after a three year planning campaign culminating in a public hearing 1 The project had applied under an innovative local planning policy designed to support low impact development The policy required residents to live a sustainable lifestyle and substantially support themselves from land based livelihood 2 Concept editThe ecovillage is centered on a Community Hub from which courses conferences and open days are run 3 It was constructed using local timber straw bale insulation and locally sourced aggregate as well as incorporating various green technologies such as a masonry stove passive solar heating and a wood fired kitchen Funding for the Community Hub came from the Department of Energy and Climate Change 4 The project has been designed as a replicable template with each household purchasing a 1000 year agricultural lease from the organisation which provides them with autonomy and security 5 Each household has access to approximately 7 acres 2 8 ha of land from which they derive food fuel and income One resident utilises permaculture techniques for managing the land 5 and electricity is generated by solar panels and a micro hydro turbine 6 7 The nine smallholdings demonstrate a range of natural building techniques though there have been challenges over compliance with building regulations which led to some of the residents being taken to court by Pembrokeshire County Council 6 These issues have since been resolved 8 9 The site is listed by RCAHMW and featured on Channel 4 s Grand Designs Series 17 Episode 6 in 2016 10 Post establishment editSince Lammas the Welsh Government introduced a national low impact policy One Planet Development which creates a framework for land based smallholdings and ecovillage projects to be established in Wales 11 One house built at a cost of 27 000 over several years was destroyed by fire in January 2018 with a total re build estimate of 500 000 The house was not insured as construction had not been completed 12 See also editDiggers and Dreamers Low impact development UK References edit Hundreds hear Lammas concerns and aspirations Western Telegraph 31 July 2009 Retrieved 19 February 2013 Revised plans for eco village BBC Online 11 March 2008 Retrieved 19 February 2013 Sian Morgan 9 July 2011 Self reliant residents live the good life in eco village WalesOnline Retrieved 19 February 2013 Low Carbon Communities Challenge Winners DECC Archived from the original on 17 December 2012 Retrieved 10 February 2013 a b Philby Charlotte 10 July 2010 Easy Living The truth about modern communes The Independent London UK a b Lonsdale Sarah 23 June 2011 Lammas Britain s first ecovillage The Telegraph London UK Archived from the original on 25 June 2011 A new way of life takes shape in West Wales Western Mail 23 January 2013 Retrieved 19 February 2013 Helen Iles Director 2013 Living in the Future Lammas Motion picture Retrieved 16 November 2013 Pembrokeshire eco village Lammas film hits cinemas BBC 22 January 2013 Retrieved 23 January 2013 Tir y Gafael Eco Village 422827 Coflein RCAHMW Retrieved 15 February 2019 Welsh Government Technical Advice Note 6 Planning for sustainable rural communities July 2010 4 15 4 23 Lammas eco house fire Family still in complete shock BBC News 6 January 2018 Retrieved 11 January 2018 Further reading editChris Bird Local Sustainable Homes Transition Books 2010 p71 74 ISBN 978 1900322768External links editOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lammas Ecovillage amp oldid 1131257391, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
