Two thousand zero-waste, zero-carbon homes could be built at Thames Gate-way if an ambitious design concept for a One Planet Living Community gets the go ahead. The Z-Squared project builds on the success of the award winning BedZED eco-village, near Sutton, pictured, and is being developed by the BioRegional Group and WWF UK in partnership with world renowned architects Foster and Partners and engineers KBR, Fulcrum Consulting and Cyril Sweet.

The Thames Gateway extends eastwards from London’s Tower Bridge to Thurrock and Dartford. The Z-Squared development plans to accommodate up to 5,000 people and the site will be large enough for the infrastructure to be sustainable, significantly reducing the total environmental impact.

The BioRegional Group and WWF are working together to develop One Planet Living communities in other parts of the world and WWF are campaigning for one million sustainable homes for Britain. “If everyone on the planet were to consume natural resources and generate carbon dioxide at the rate we do in the UK, we would need three planets to support us,” said WWF who, through their campaign, are working with the government, industry and public to bring sustainable homes from the fringes of the housing sector into the mainstream.