BGF founding director Steffie built her first home at the Ashley Vale self-build community: the Yard, St. Werburghs, Bristol, laying blocks with her baby boy Isham on her back.
Steffie also raised funding for solar PV cells for all homes and monitored their performance for two years as part of the UK government’s PV field trials. This, and other sustainable build measures, resulted in our final development at The Yard winning the South West Green Energy Award 2009 ‘Best Housing Scheme’.
Living in the Yard, changed Steffie’s life and inspired her to found Bright Green Futures to help others do the same. For more information click here to download the article published in Build-It.
This is a film produced by Ridgedale Permaculture, which follows the story of The Yard (from 32.59):
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Buildings: 39 homes: a mixture of unique houses and flats, 3 work units for social enterprises, community room: Wild Goose Space
Location: St. Werburghs, Bristol
Main Features: Each home was individually designed and build by their owner. Self-build and self-finish. Communal garden, shared waste and recycling hub, private road with shared surface and 5mph speed limit: kids rule it!
Awards: Winner of the 2016 South West Energy Efficiency Champion Award. Winner of the 2017 Best Neighbourhood in Britain Award by The Academy of Urbanism
Availability: Fully occupied
