An island paradise BUSINESS


30 | SUSTAINABILITY WORDS | Gordon Miller


he discussions at the COP17 UN summit in Durban sought to advance, in a balanced fashion, the implementation of the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol, as well as the Bali Action Plan, agreed at COP 13 in 2007, and the Cancun Agreements, reached at COP 16 in December 2010. The talks may well have been conducted at the highest level, but their conclusions – and agreed next steps – fi lter down and become integrated national policy. And that is where agents and developers have to start listening.


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For instance, the collective EU member states agreement to produce 20% of their energy from renewable sources by 2020 arose from agreements brokered at former UNCC conferences. In a developed economy, where the built environment is responsible for 40% of CO2 emissions, change is being achieved through the stepped tightening of building regulations with regard to energy effi ciency - all done via national legislation. Elsewhere in the world, building regulations and climate change legislation are less developed. Robert Whitton, manager of the Malgretoute Hotel Development Company (MHDC), which is


developing Freedom Bay in St Lucia, said: “The building regulations in St Lucia do not focus on the sustainable aspects of development; they are more focussed on the buildings’ durability and safety aspects.” Signifi cantly, Whitton has elected to develop Freedom Bay sustainably. The architect appointed is the award-winning Studio RHE, and the operator is Six Senses Resorts & Spas, a member of Sustain Worldwide. This exclusive group is a pioneer in sustainable resort


“The more affl uent the client is, the more sustainability becomes signifi cant to them”


development and operation. Whitton puts it like this: “sustainability is fundamental to Freedom Bay. I see the development as a force for good locally, environmentally and socially. The location is a unique setting, within a UNESCO World Heritage site, at the foot of the Piton Mountains, and we are determined to respect the site. The villas will augment and blend in with the local environment.” Strict, enforceable rules govern what can


be built and where and, as architect Richard Hywel Evans says, “a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was undertaken. It’s a very prescriptive, live document that informs what can and can’t be done, down to what tree may be moved, to where and when. It’s similarly rigorous with regard to wildlife.”


If all this sounds “woolly headed”, think again. Whitton is a businessman fi rst and foremost. He is best known for founding the aAim Group PLC in 2001 which was initially funded by a number of high profi le investors (including Sir Alex Ferguson), and transacted more than £3.5 bn of commercial property deals in UK & Europe. According to Whitton, “building sustainably costs more to deliver, but the selling premium achievable by doing so is equal to the extra costs incurred. Plus there are operational effi ciencies [reduced utility, water and waste costs] that save money. Increasingly, too, it’s important to consumers – particularly wealthier ones who can afford to have a clean conscience. The more affl uent the client is, the more sustainability becomes signifi cant to them. It’s about the concept and value of luxury. It becomes a unique aspect of their purchasing experience. Most people won’t buy because a resort is sustainably built and run – location and price take precedent – followed by the design, and sustainability features within that aspect.”


Sustainable design is core to Studio Freedom Bay | A better way forward for future resort developments in St Lucia


RHE’s architectural DNA. Hywel Evan told OPP that “as with all our projects, we begin with the passive design elements – natural venting, wind towers and brise soleil – to reduce the need for mechanical cooling. There will be solar pv and solar water heating, grey water recycling and rainwater collection. Materials will be locally sourced from renewable sources where they are available.” Evans is pleased to


www.opp.org.uk | JANUARY 2012


Sustainability is an increasingly ‘hot’ topic globally. The recent UN Climate Change Conference in Durban brought together representatives from the world’s governments, international organisations and civil society, to debate sustainability in the broadest context of climate change impact. What did they decide, what’s next and why?


Gordon Miller is the Co- founder and Sustainability & Communications Director of membership organisation www.sustainworldwide.com


be collaborating with Six Senses, with whom he has not worked before. “It’s long overdue,” he said. “Their resorts use more materials and have a stronger vernacular than the signature Studio RHE design, but our trademark shapes and forms are recognisably evident at Freedom Bay. The design is breaking new ground for the island, Six Senses and ourselves.” Six Senses’ equitable treatment of employees’ directive has laid down a new marker locally too. The company prescribes that its staff (which it calls hosts) must have high minimum standards in their personal accommodation, with individual shower facilities, and regular rest periods. The ethos is “treat your staff as you would your guests and they will provide a higher level of service with greater loyalty to you”.


Social responsibility also extends beyond the resort’s boundaries. The Andrew Strauss Cricket Academy – Strauss is an ambassador for Freedom Bay and has invested in the resort – was opened in December 2011. The Academy will provide specialised cricket training in the fi rst year to a minimum of 40 athletes, aged between 8-16 years and 25 senior players. Strauss said: “I am looking forward to spending some of my limited leisure time at my new holiday home at Freedom Bay each year, as well as investing time into the academy of excellence. I hope my professional experience of the game will rub-off on the local community and give some of the young St Lucians a positive focus in their lives.” For Whitton, it is all about encouraging a new model for future developments on St Lucia.


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