Eco-Towns: Greenwash Or Real Solution?

30 October 2007

Government plans for a series of ‘eco-towns’ will fail unless they are well integrated with existing settlements and agreed with, not imposed on, local communities, say countryside campaigners, the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE). [1]

Housing Minister, Yvette Cooper MP, is expected to launch a competition today (Tuesday) inviting architects, planners and designers to submit proposals for an eco-town. [2] A citizens’ jury will join the judging panel to pick the winning design which will form the basis for ten eco-towns across the country. [3]

Neil Sinden, CPRE policy director, said:

‘As exemplars it will be vital that eco-towns adopt cutting-edge environmental standards, on reducing carbon emissions, water and energy use, and waste, for example. We welcome any initiative which encourages this. But using citizens’ juries is no substitute for consulting local communities on the need for, location and design of eco-towns through the established planning process. [4]

And it would be a huge mistake to attempt to design a town from scratch on a drawing board with no knowledge of the site or location in question. To be truly sustainable, the new eco-towns need to be sited on previously developed land adjacent to or within existing settlements rather than free-standing new towns in rural areas which would encourage car dependency.

Neil Sinden concluded:

‘The environmental impact of development extends far beyond the footprint of a particular development site. [5] Decisions on eco-towns, as with any major development, need to take account of this wider development “shadow” and the need to focus development on brownfield sites. They also need to be considered through the established planning process, which ensures that evidence is tested, the views of local communities are considered, and full account taken of environmental consequences.’

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Bill Bryson. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen.

2. Yvette Cooper is expected to announce the competition at an Eco Towns Conference today at The Paul Mellon Centre, 16 Bedford Square, London. The conference is being run by the Princes Foundation. Neil Sinden, CPRE’s policy director, is also speaking at this event.

3. Gordon Brown announced his plans to build up to 100,000 houses in five eco-towns in May. Each eco-town will contain up to 20,000 homes. Homes would be low or zero carbon. The first eco-town is to be built at Oakington Barracks, Cambridgeshire. In September, Gordon Brown announced a further five eco-towns would be built, making a total of 10 altogether.

4. CPRE supports the plan-led system, whereby the level and location of new housing is agreed through local and regional development plans. These plans are adopted following extensive public consultation and testing of evidence.

5. Research published by CPRE shows a remorseless loss of undisturbed countryside. From the 1960s to 1990s the total area of England disturbed by noise and visual intrusion of roads, urban areas and major infrastructure rose from 26% to 41%. In the past 15 years alone another 9% has been blighted. At this rate of loss much of what remains could disappear in the next 80 years. This shadow of urban growth or new roads or runways means that with 11% of England already urbanised, 50% is seriously disturbed by the sight, noise, and movement associated with development. For more information about CPRE’s intrusion maps, contact the press office.

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