China’s newest Special Economic Zone set to gain a One Planet Community

On September 9th BioRegional signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Chongqing Municipal Government at the UN sponsored Annual China Economic Forum. The MoU is for the development of a One Planet Community on a 30 hectare site in the north of Chongqing, within China’s 5th and newest ‘Special Economic Zone’ (others are Shanghai Pudong, Shenzhen, Tianjin and Dalian). The project is also listed under the UK China Sustainable Cities MoU, updated in July 2010.

The team in China is currently working with RHS (a Chongqing based architectural and urban planning practice) to complete the concept planning stage. Once the concept has been approved by the Municipal Government a developer will be appointed and the detailed design process can begin. We will assemble an experienced design team able to present a solution that will enable One Planet Living; the team will comprise RHS, Chongqing University, AECOM (to lead engineering solutions) and UCL’s Bartlett School of Architecture (critical design support).

We have lots of exciting ideas for the project, including a professional training centre for built environment professionals and academics that will link leading academic research from Universities in China, Europe and the US with professional best practice in China’s real estate sector.

News of the MoU has been greeted with considerable interest both in China and the UK, and has featured in a number of national and local television programmes and newspaper articles.

And if that wasn’t exciting enough – we are entering into negotiations with China Merchants Property Development with a view to endorsing the final phase of Jinshan ‘The Hills’ as China’s first One Planet Community. If the project progresses as planned, BioRegional will be working closely with the appointed design team at RMJM Architects to ensure the plans meet the Common International Targets.

For the next few months the team will be working with potential investors. If you are interested in learning more about the investment opportunities or participating in the project please contact Alastair McMahon (alastair.mcmahon@bioregional.com +86 136 583 111 45).