SUNNY VALLEY – A SUSTAINABLE NEW COMMUNITY FOR CHELYABINSK
Sunny Valley is a new district or, to be more exact, a satellite town of Chelyabinsk that will be constructed on the territory of 1200 ha to the northwest to the existing city.
Over 3,2 mln sqm of housing will be built in the new town along with approx 1,8 mln sqm of social and commercial
objects. By the time of completion, Sunny Valley will become home to 115 000-120 000 people. The proposed project is a unique opportunity to create a model new community based on prioritising social, economic, geographic, ecological and environmental value.
SUNNY VALLEY
Sunny Valley will offer the residents of Chelyabinsk a choice of a new lifestyle that combines the amenities of urban environments with the benefits of country living.
It will improve the living, working and playing conditions of the citizens of Chelyabinsk, raising standards
and expectations. Sunny Valley will:
• lead the way in technological and ecological development integrating innovative pioneering technology towards creating a total sustainable community
• integrate the natural ecology with parklands, local and neighbourhood green spaces to encourage the safeguarding of natural assets into the future;
create a new urban centre typology as an example of globally conscious and ecologically conscientious community development;
• deliver an ‘edge city’ creating opportunities for Chelyabinsk to grow and incorporate new opportunities and possibilities
For communities to succeed and thrive it is fundamentally important from the outset to implement place making strategies that achieve the correct density, mix of uses and infrastructure that:
• future proof development, protecting green space and guiding future development within an accepted and championed framework
• encourage flexibility, accessibility, growth and change
• craft comfortably scaled and attractive (social, economical and environmental) people places
• respond to the context (climate, landscape, geography, movement, society)
• intensify and activate compact nodes of activity to encourage and sustain life and growth
SEVEN KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
Sustainable communities can be diverse reflecting their local circumstances. Sunny Valley will be characterised
by the following qualities or performance criteria:
1. Active, inclusive and safe
Fair, tolerant and cohesive with a strong local culture and other shared community activities Sustainable Communities will offer:
• A sense of community identity and belonging
• Co-operative and helpful neighbourhoods
• Opportunities for cultural, leisure, community and sport for all age groups
• Social inclusion and good life chances for all
2. Well run
Effective and inclusive participation, representation and leadership. Sustainable communities enjoy:
• representative, accountable governance which enable effective participation by individuals and organisations
• engagement with the community at neighbourhood level, including capacity building to develop community skills, knowledge and confidence
• strong community and voluntary sector sense of civic values, responsibility and pride
3. Environmentally responsive
Providing places for people to live that are considerate of the environment and mitigate conditions fit for human settlement. Sustainable communities:
• Minimise climate change, including energy efficiency and the use of renewables
• Protect the environment by minimising pollution on land, in water and in the air
• Minimise waste and dispose of it in accordance with current good practice or better
• Efficiently use natural resources, encouraging sustainable production and consumption
• Protect and improve biodiversity (e.g. wildlife habitats)
• Enable lifestyles that minimises negative impacts (e.g. mitigating temperature extremes, creating opportunities for walking and cycling, reducing noise pollution and car dependence)
• Create cleaner safer and greener neighbourhoods (e.g. by reducing litter and graffiti, and maintaining pleasant public spaces)
4. Well designed and built
Featuring quality built and natural environments.
Sustainable communities offer:
• sense of place — a place with a positive 'feeling' for people and local distinctiveness
• user-friendly public and green spaces with facilities for people of all ages
• sufficient range, affordability and accessibility of housing within a balanced housing market
• appropriate size, scale, density, design and layout, including mixed-use development, that can complement the distinctive local character of the community
• high quality, mixed-use, durable, flexible and adaptable buildings, using materials which minimise negative environmental impacts
• buildings and public spaces which promote health and are designed to reduce crime and make people feel safe
• accessibility of jobs, key services and facilities by public transport, walking and cycling
5. Well connected
Good transport services and communication linking people to jobs, schools, health and other services. Sustainable
communities offer:
• transport facilities, including public transport, that help people travel within and between communities and reduce dependence on cars
• facilities to encourage safe local walking and cycling
• an appropriate level of local parking facilities in line with local plans to manage road traffic
• widely available and effective telecommunications and Internet access
• good access to regional, national and international communications networks
6. Thriving
A flourishing and diverse local economy
Sustainable communities feature:
• a wide range of jobs and training opportunities
• sufficient suitable land and buildings to support economic prosperity and change dynamic job and business creation, with benefits for the local community
• a strong business community with links into the wider economy
• economically viable and attractive town centres
7. Well served
Public and private, community and voluntary services appropriate to people's needs and accessible to all
Sustainable communities have:
• Well-performing schools, higher education institutions and opportunities for lifelong learning
• high quality local health care and social services, integrated other services
• high quality services for families and children (including early years child care)
• good range of affordable public, community, voluntary and private services (e.g. retail, fresh food, commercial, utilities, information and advice) accessible to the whole community
• service providers who think and act long-term beyond their own immediate boundaries and who involve users and local residents in shaping policy and practice
