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Evolving to Ecos

A new name, Ecos Trust, has been chosen for the Somerset Trust for Sustainable Development (STSD) to better reflect the growing geographical area and type of work being carried out by the Charity. Formed in 2000, the Trust’s vision will be to make sustainable neighbourhoods the norm rather than the exception in the South West by 2010.

Similarly, South West Eco-Homes Limited, a subsidiary company, will be known as Ecos Homes Limited. Under its new name, Ecos Homes will become responsible for the pioneering and award-wining development in Langport, Great Bow Yard - 12 beautifully designed low carbon eco-homes and a grade II listed warehouse currently being sympathetically restored.

Ecos has been chosen as an apt name as it is the English spelling of the Greek word for ‘home’ – ‘Oikos’, which is the root of the word ‘ecology‘.

Charles Couzens, Executive Director of the Ecos Trust, comments: “Our first mixed-use development project in Somerset, Great Bow Yard has set a standard for sustainable building and is an excellent example of how a brown field site can be transformed. Our work is now evolving and we wanted a new, pertinent name to reflect this.

“For example this year Ecos Homes is embarking on two new projects; five new homes in Stawell, a small hamlet in Somerset and another five in Bridport, a vibrant market town in Dorset. Both these projects will aim to demonstrate carbon neutral developments, in line with new Government legislation, and will focus on sustainable communities and neighbourhoods as a whole. Ecos Homes’ mission is to show sustainable design and construction in practice, persuade planners, builders, developers and estate agents of its practicality, and prove that it meets a real, and as yet unmet, demand from house buyers.”