COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT News Release (149) issued by The Government News Network
on 23 June 2008
The fifteen
experts on the Eco-towns Challenge Panel have today set out a
series of recommendations for potential eco-town developers,
designed to improve their plans to create world-leading
sustainable developments.
Many bidders have been praised for their vision and commitment
but others are warned that their ideas must be more ambitious or
that they lack innovation.
Formed of leading experts from the worlds of design, the
environment, transport and sustainability, the Panel were tasked
with reviewing developers' proposals, providing expert advice
on their work and challenging them to meet the highest standards
possible. Developers were grilled on issues ranging from their
ability to reduce the carbon footprint of residents and their
reliance on cars to the likely "day in the life" of an
eco-town resident in 2020.
Housing Minister Caroline Flint said: "I have been clear
from the start that only those bids that reach the highest
possible standards for sustainability can make it through. The
Eco-town Challenge panel have played an important role in both
providing advice and encouragement to developers on what they have
done well, but also challenging them to up their game where there
is room for improvement. I'd like to thank the Panel for all
their hard work.
"This process was meant to be a challenging ride for the
developers, and they need to be open to the creativity of these
ideas. Some clearly need to up their game and the ball is now in
their court."
John Walker, Chairman of the Eco-towns Challenge Panel, said:
"Our brief was to challenge each proposal in a robust and
constructive way, and I think we have done a good job on that
front. We have seen much to admire, but in all cases we are
challenging the developers to take major steps forward. We want
the final eco-towns to be better than the best of the current
examples that do exist in the UK and the rest of Europe - clearly
there is still a lot of work to do."
Developers now have the opportunity to consider how they plan to
respond to these challenges before meeting with the Panel again
next month to discuss their work in progress.
Notes to editors
1. Eco-towns give us a unique opportunity to tackle two of the
greatest challenges facing the country - the pressing need to
confront climate change, and to deliver more affordable housing.
Fifteen potential sites for eco-towns are currently being
consulted on, and next month Communities and Local Government will
begin consultation on a detailed assessment of each location and
the proposed standards that eco-towns will have to meet. A final
shortlist of up to ten potential sites will be decided later this
year, after which developers will need to go through the planning
process, subject to full public scrutiny.
2. The full recommendations of the Eco-towns Challenge Panel are
available at http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingsupply/ecotowns/
3. The 15 members of the Eco-towns Challenge Panel are:
- John Walker, Chair. Former chief executive of the British Urban
Regeneration Association and expert in delivery of large mixed use development
- Lynda Addison. Managing director of Addison & Associates.
Transport and planning expert.
- Dr Liz Goodwin. Chief executive, WRAP. Expert in use of natural
resources and recycling
- Stephen Hale. Director of the Green Alliance. Environmental 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
- Barry Munday - Architect with experience of New Town
development and regeneration. An advocate of best practice, good
housing design and new methods of construction
- Kris Murrin. TV presenter, expert in sustainable transport and
children's issues.
- Sunand Prasad. President of the Royal Institute of British
Architecture and expert in design and architecture.
- Liz Reason. Director of Reasons to be Cheerful consultancy.
Expert in innovative approaches to energy issues and climate change
- Sue Riddlestone. Director, BioRegional Development Group.
Expert in sustainability and sustainable development.
- Richard Simmons. Chief executive, Commission for Architecture
and the Built Environment and expert and expert in architectural issues
- Joanna Yarrow. TV presenter, green-lifestyle specialist and
founder of sustainability company Beyond Green
4. The Eco-towns Challenge Panel will not be responsible for
deciding which schemes make the final shortlist of up to ten
potential locations for eco-towns. This will be determined by
Ministers following two periods of public consultation and a
detailed Sustainability Appraisal of the locations. Those
locations that do make the final shortlist will then have to go
through the planning process.
5. The Eco-towns Challenge Panel met with promoters for the
proposed eco-towns at Marston Vale, New Marston, Hanley Grange,
Curborough, Rossington, Ford, Weston Otmoor, Bordon-Whitehill,
Pennbury, Manby, Middle Quinton, North East Elsenham, Coltishall
and St Austell. They did not discuss Rushcliffe or the Leeds City
Region as specific sites or developers have not been identified.
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