Even a decade after the furnaces were extinguished, it had a reputation as one of Europe's pollution hotspots.

But housebuilders bidding to play a part in the ambitious redevelopment of the former Ravenscraig steelworks in Lanarkshire will have to adhere to what has been billed as the strictest environmental guidelines ever required by a development in Scotland.

The first phase of housing will be in the Carfin area of the site and involves 820 homes.

As well as meeting stringent design and architectural requirements, housebuilders will be held accountable for delivering some of the most green housing in Scotland.

All developers will be required to achieve a minimum "ecohomes rating" of "very good" for their houses.

They will also be asked to provide facilities to recycle or compost at least 25% of household waste, maximise energy efficiency techniques, install combined heat and power boilers, preferably fuelled by renewable energy, provide on-site renewable energy generation facilities capable of reducing carbon emissions by at least 10% and install water-saving devices.

Developers will have to provide rainwater harvesting facilities in gardens, use only timber from the Forest Stewardship Council and temperate sources and employ only low-emission finishes, construction materials, carpets and furnishings to protect internal air quality.

Ravenscraig Ltd, which comprises Wilson Bowden Developments Ltd, Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire and Corus, claims it is the first company to insist on such rigorous environmentally sound standards in Scotland.