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Colin Richards, SSDC's Conservation Officer, explained:
“We wanted to demonstrate traditional sustainable building methods using low cost materials that are available locally.”

The construction industry is currently responsible for around 50% of the UK's carbon emissions, equal to some 75 million tonnes per year. Of those 75m tonnes 20%, 15 tonnes, is emitted during construction. By using materials that are available within the locality, and have not consumed huge amounts of CO2 in their production, we can greatly reduce the carbon footprint of a new building.

The workshops at Acton Scott followed on from the project in May that formed part of the Ludlow Green Festival and saw members of the Council's planning service work with local people to build a straw bale house on the garden area in front of Ludlow Castle. That scheme resulted in the erection of a small building created from locally-available materials and using labour and expertise provided by many different community groups including young adults on probation, and school pupils. It helped to demonstrate that thermally efficient buildings can be built using unskilled labour, local materials and with a minimal carbon footprint.

Council Planners and Building Inspectors have since travelled to Poland to learn about building with light clay blocks, and the event at Acton Scott was one way of sharing expertise more widely.

The Council's building control section would welcome enquiries and are happy to provide guidance on how these traditional techniques comply with current building regulation requirements.

Jake Berriman, Head of Planning and Building at SSDC explains the Council's involvement in these projects:
“I am convinced that we cannot continue indefinitely to build housing which is harmful to our global environment. There is no reason why the move to lower carbon buildings cannot start here in South Shropshire. By using local skills and materials we can both stimulate the local economy and add to the unique identity of the area.”