COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT News Release (204) issued by The Government News Network
on 31 July 2008
Significant
progress has been made in the proposals for eco-towns, according
to a report published today by the Eco-Town Challenge Panel, an
independent group of experts in sustainability and urban
development set up by Housing Minister Caroline Flint.
The Panel found that many of the bidders had responded positively
to the first set of recommendations, published last May, but it
still wants to see further improvements to the transport and
employment strategies for a number of the proposed eco-towns.
Housing Minister Caroline Flint, who last week announced that
eco-towns faced the toughest ever green standards for new housing, said:
"The progress made over the past few weeks demonstrates the
willingness of the promoters to react to the expert advice they
have been given. But there are no done deals and only the best
quality schemes with very high sustainability standards will
qualify for eco-town status."
John Walker, chairman of the Eco-town Challenge Panel, said:
"Many of the proposals have shown significant and
encouraging progress during those few weeks. In all cases, the
Panel made suggestions about where it believes further progress is
most needed, and has encouraged the direction in which much of the
work is going. It is now for the proposers to consider whether
and how to respond to these comments through the further
development of their ideas."
The Panel was set up by the Government to encourage bidders for
eco-towns to raise the standard of their proposals, in order to
maximise the potential for eco-town development in every location.
The panel has not been asked to select schemes or to recommend
which schemes should or should not go forward. Their role is to
encourage bidders to develop their proposals to fit well within
their surroundings, demonstrate innovative approaches to produce
groundbreaking sustainable developments.
The full report of the Panel's findings can be found on http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingsupply/ecotowns/
Notes to editors
1. The thirteen shortlisted locations for eco-towns are:
Pennbury, Leicestershire; Middle Quinton, Warwickshire;
Bordon-Whitehill, Hampshire; Weston Otmoor, Oxfordshire; Ford,
West Sussex; St Austell China Clay Community, Cornwall;
Rossington, South Yorkshire; Hanley Grange, Cambridgeshire;
Marston Vale, Bedfordshire; North East Elsenham, Essex; Greater
Norwich; Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire; and Leeds City Region, Yorkshire.
The last three sites were not assessed by the Challenge Panel as
the final sites in these areas have not yet been determined.
2. The first round of recommendations from the Challenge Panel
were published on 19 May. More details are at http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/810823
and the full report can be found at http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/challengepanelnotes
3. The Challenge Panel members are:
John Walker (Chair) - Former Chief Executive, British Urban
Regeneration Association. Expert in delivery of large mixed use development
Dr Liz Goodwin - Chief Executive, Waste and Resource Action
Programme (WRAP). Expert in use of natural resources and recycling
Stephen Hale - Director, Green Alliance. Environment expert
Sir Peter Hall - President, Town and Country Planning
Association. Expert in urban issues, housing and planning
Wayne Hemingway - Founder, Red or Dead. Expert in design and
social issues
Stephen Joseph - Executive Director, Campaign for Better
Transport. Transport expert
Nick Mabey - Chief Executive, E3G. Expert in energy issues and
economic development
Kris Murrin - TV presenter, expert in sustainable transport and
children's issues
Sunand Prasad - Royal Institute of British Architects President.
Expert in design and architecture
Liz Reason - Director, Reasons to Be Cheerful consultancy. Expert
in innovative approaches to energy issues and climate change
Sue Riddlestone - Director and co-founder, BioRegional
Development Group. Expert in sustainability and sustainable development
Joanna Yarrow - TV presenter, green-lifestyle specialist and
founder of sustainability company Beyond Green
Richard Simmons - Expert in architecture and the built environment
Lynda Addison - Managing Director of Addison & Associates.
Transport and planning expert
Barry Munday - Architect with experience of New Town development
and regeneration. An advocate of best practice, good housing
design and new methods of construction
News Releases: http://www.communities.gov.uk/newsroom