Building work has started on a new low carbon housing scheme on Portland in Dorset that aims to be an exemplar of green development.

Sustainable developer ZeroC, in partnership with the South West RDA (Regional Development Agency), is building 77 low carbon homes on RDA-owned land at Osprey Quay.

The project is the latest step in the RDA's £40 million regeneration of the former Royal Navy Air Station where it hopes to create 1,400 jobs by 2016, leaving a lasting economic legacy. The RDA bought the site in 2000 and it was subsequently selected as the venue for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games sailing events.

The ZeroC scheme will include 77 mainly family homes, new streets and a public square. Nineteen of the units will be high quality affordable houses for local people, varying in size from two to four bedrooms. It is being built on the north side of Victory Road.

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The RDA has set aside up to £500,000 from the sale of the site to invest in improved recreational facilities, the first of which will be a £200,000 replacement skate park. Work on that will start in the New Year.

Alison Hatcher, Head of Regeneration for the South West RDA in Dorset, said: "This is the latest step in the regeneration of Osprey Quay and we're delighted that ZeroC is on site. This project is part of our aspiration to create a wide range of activity at Osprey Quay while promoting the development of a low carbon economy."

All of the homes are being built to Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, and will reduce carbon emissions by more than half compared with conventional new build properties.

On the scheme's completion in December 2011 there are plans to use some of the RDA's £500,000 to upgrade the playing field to a high standard and retain it as a permanent sports field and open space.

Other proposals include new seating and play facilities at Victoria Gardens and improvements to Osprey Quay Leisure Centre.

The houses have been designed by the award winning contemporary architects HTA and are being built by contractor Acheson, the Dorset-based construction company.

They will include wood pellet boilers, rainwater harvesting systems, solar water heating, and solar panels to generate electricity. Residents will also be able to join an electric car club to reduce emissions even further.

(CD/KMcA)