Five of the tallest wind turbines in the world will power the star shaped EcoStar

Design, planning and environmental consultant RPS Bristol has been appointed to develop a flamboyant businessman鈥檚 eco-town dream.

EcoStar, the 拢1bn sustainable town and holiday resort in the desert of Dubai, could become a memorial to Jameel Hashmee, a Bristol-based businessman who was the driving force behind a scheme.

His vision was for a star-shaped town of 8,000 people situated 20 miles inland from the coast which would have a zero-carbon footprint.

The concept contains cutting edge technology to minimise the town鈥檚 impact on the environment and includes a five million ft虏 mix of homes, leisure facilities, offices and retail development.

Colin Bloch, RPS director, said: 鈥淭he power would come from five wind turbines at the points of the star, each 650 ft high and the tallest in the world, and from solar panels, while at least 50% of the water used in the development would be recycled.

鈥淭he centerpiece of the scheme would be a recreation of the Taj Mahal which would be the most exclusive boutique hotel in the world.

鈥淏ut he also wanted the resort to be a place which all people could afford to visit 鈥 not just the fabulously wealthy.

鈥淭his is one of the most exciting projects that we at RPS have undertaken and incorporates the latest environmental technology and sustainable materials.鈥

RPS has also produced a blueprint for an alternative offshore version of EcoStar Dubai built on man-made islands in the warm waters of the Gulf.

Bloch said: 鈥淲hichever is eventually built, it will be a great memorial to an extraordinary man who loved life and had great vision and enthusiasm.鈥

Hashmee died suddenly last December aged 57 on a family visit to Pakistan.

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