Partner Article

Plans moving for Northumberland science village

Plans are currently being considered for a sustainable ‘science village’ at a farm in rural Northumberland. North East architects Dewjo’c have been commissioned by Newcastle University to design their Centre for Renewable Energy from Land (CREEL). The development at Cockle Park Farm, near Morpeth, Northumberland will be part of the ScienceCity initiative.

If planning permission is granted, 19th Century farm buildings will be converted to create research facilities for the study of renewable energy. Additional space will be created for teaching, conferences and visitors. A number of units will also be adapted to house SME businesses working in the renewable energy and environmental sector.

The centre will generate its own heat and electricity and will be fully equipped with renewable energy sources including a wind turbine and solar panels, as well as its own bio mass and gasification plants, creating energy from organic matter including crops and animal waste.

Steve Agar, the Dewjo’c director overseeing the project, said: “We are very excited about working on such an important, high profile research facility as CREEL, which will doubtless become the leading UK research centre into renewable energy.

“The facilities that will be housed in the buildings are very unusual, so there is no design precedent, which means we have had to create highly detailed, bespoke plans for the village. As well as being functional, the buildings must be great places to live, work, learn and visit and we have worked hard to ensure we marry the two with best effect.”

It is hoped construction will begin in March 2008 and that the main development will be operational by April 2009.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .