Green, The "Triangle", Howse Garden, off Northern Road, Swindon

Image: © Vieve Forward Taken: 13 Jun 2012

The "Triangle", Howse Garden, is a new and controversial housing development off Northern Road, Swindon. Built by Hab Oakus, the partnership between TV presenter Kevin McCloud's company Hab and housing group GreenSquare, it is an estate of 42 sustainable and "affordable" dwellings. http://www.haboakus.co.uk/triangle/ The houses are constructed using Tradical® Hemcrete® (made from hemp shiv mixed with a lime based binder). http://www.e-architect.co.uk/england/the_triangle.htm According to their website, “Haboakus developments are designed to be respectful towards the environment and easy and cheap to run … the developer aims to create developments that allow people to live more environmentally-friendly and fulfilling lives: to walk or cycle rather than drive; to share lifts or join a car club; to grow their own food; and to co-exist happily with natural habitats, wildlife, and, above all, with their neighbours and the community as a whole." On 6th December 2011, McCloud said, “The public areas are now pretty well complete and I'm looking forward to seeing the wild flowers emerge next summer. I'm also looking forward to seeing how productive the polytunnels, veg beds and edible hedgerows are.” http://www.haboakus.co.uk/triangletv.htm However, when I visited the estate in June, all I saw was this sorry-looking excuse for a village green, with its even sorrier-looking non-functioning village pump, a few straggly trees and not a single wild flower. If anyone knows where they have hidden the polytunnels, veg beds and edible hedgerows, please let me know.

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