DunBear Park

DunBear Park is a proposed low carbon community located in the East Lothian town of Dunbar, Scotland.

DunBear Park logo

Development

Proposals for DunBear Park envision a 54.3-acre mixed use development designed around The DunBear sculpture.[1]

The development forms part of the 400-acre Hallhill development in Dunbar. This includes community hall and sports facility, community woodland, park and ride parking, an Asda, a garden centre, a hotel, pub and restaurant, a McDonald’s and more than 1,500 homes, including over 200 affordable homes.[2]

The DunBear Park site has been allocated for development by East Lothian Council since 1999. This was most recently highlighted in the Council’s Adopted Local Development Plan 2018.

Proposals for DunBear Park include[3]:

  • Commercial uses – including office, manufacturing and industrial spaces, retail and leisure amenities, a nursery, an extra care facility and a hotel.
  • Community uses - accommodating a youth centre, a visitor centre for The DunBear sculpture and a community garden and bee keeping area.
  • Residential uses - including low carbon affordable homes for key workers such as NHS staff, the police and care workers.

The DunBear sculpture, made of steel and in the shape of a bear, pays tribute to Dunbar-born naturalist John Muir, who was credited with playing a key role in the establishment of national parks around the world.[4]

It was designed by Andy Scott, the Scottish artist who is known for other artworks like The Kelpies. The DunBear was named by a pupil at Dunbar Grammar School following a competition involving all the schools in Dunbar.[5]

Aerial view of DunBear Park - Proposals (CGI)

On the 3rd June 2020, the initial proposals were presented on a digital public consultation event to the general public. [6]

Low carbon community

DunBear Park has been presented as a low carbon community.

The development has announced that, if approved, it will only adopt the latest low carbon technology to address climate change by delivering onsite heating via its own district heating network. This will make heat cheaper and with lower carbon emissions than gas-fired boilers, saving in cost for those living or operating a business on site.[7]

In addition to this it will install a photovoltaic array to provide the site with renewable clean power as well as EV charging points.

Its planning proposal also indicate that the entire development will embrace environmental, socio-economic and governance criteria that will ensure that DunBear Park will become an exemplar low carbon development.[8]

Covid-19 Recovery Plan

The DunBear Park development will play a major role in supporting the economic recovery from the current crisis, in which the construction sector could play a major part.

Proposals also include plans to build a hundred affordable homes for key workers, such as NHS staff, police officers and care workers.[9]

In an interview with the developers’ CEO, Ken Ross, this was highlighted as a way to acknowledge and pay tribute for the work these workers did during the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020[10]. In the same interview, it was declared that such homes would be built without any government subsidy.[11]

References
  1. Symon, Ken (2020-05-04). "Developer launches plans for The DunBear site at Dunbar". businessInsider. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  2. Delaney, James (2020-05-27). "Plans for new low-carbon community near Dunbar out for consultation". edinburghlive. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  3. "DunBear Park | Planning Consultation | A New Development From at DunBear Park". Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  4. "New bear sculpture in Dunbar to celebrate John Muir". John Muir Birthplace. 2019-11-20. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  5. am, InsightBernard PonsonbyPublished 31st July 2020 at 6:47 (2020-02-04). "Schoolgirl wins competition to name giant bear sculpture". STV News. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  6. "Plans for ambitious 'DunBear Park' set to be revealed". East Lothian Courier. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  7. "'Green' village with affordable homes to be aimed at key workers". The National. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  8. "Proposals for DunBear Park, Dunbar set to go on display". The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations Limited. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  9. "Ambitious development offers housing for key workers". East Lothian Courier. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  10. "DunBear Park - Ken Ross OBE Interview". That's TV. 6 May 2020.
  11. Alex.Orr. "Homes fit for key workers | DunBear Park | Planning Consultation". Retrieved 2020-07-31.
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