Diamond Developers has revealed that it will focus exclusively on sustainable developments from here on in.
The news comes following the early success of The Sustainable City (TSC), which is currently being constructed in Dubai, UAE.
In an interview with Construction Week, the developer’s CEO, Faris Saeed, said that all of Diamond Developer’s future projects would be based on a similar model.
“We feel that this is the future of the market,” he explained. “Every developer should follow this trend. So long as the environmental and economic factors are balanced appropriately, I see no reason why every development shouldn’t be sustainable.”
TSC, Diamond Developers’ first sustainable project, will feature 10,000 trees, 10MWp of solar production, a green spine, and its own farm. 100% of its waste and water will be recycled, and the majority of the community’s energy demand will be generated on site through renewable resources.
Saeed explained that following TSC, Diamond will look to develop a similar community, but on a more affordable scale. The CEO is confident that his team can achieve the same level of sustainability, even on a more modestly priced project.
“Yes, it will be easy for us to translate,” he remarked. “Sustainability can be applied universally. The difference in construction costs between luxury and affordable projects is not as great as you might imagine – perhaps 20%. The difference lies in the land price.
“TSC is a low-density community. This means that the land price accounts for a higher proportion of the overall project cost. When you have higher-density communities, the land value per unit is reduced. It’s easy to see how the prices will be impacted.
“It is the same with infrastructure; whatever you see here [at TSC], you will see there [on our future projects]. Sure, the finishing materials might be less expensive, but you will find the same aluminium, the same precast concrete, the same solar technologies, and so on. The main features will be identical,” added Saeed.
For now, Diamond and main contractor, Jeet Building Contracting, are concentrating on the delivery of Phase 1 of TSC, which is on course to complete by the third quarter of 2015. This phase comprises five 100-villa clusters, a green spine, an equestrian centre, horse, bicycle, walking and jogging tracks, a community mall, and all infrastructural works. Phase 2 will include the construction of an eco-resort, a green school, a Sustainability Centre of Excellence, and a science museum.
All construction at the site is due to complete before the end of 2016.