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Valuing Our Life Support Systems: The Contribution of Eco-towns

This article explores the value of eco-towns in addressing climate change and sustainable development. It discusses the key criteria and standards for eco-towns, including zero carbon emissions, affordable housing, and green infrastructure. The challenges of the planning process and collapsed property market are also addressed.

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Valuing Our Life Support Systems: The Contribution of Eco-towns

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  1. Valuing Our Life Support Systems The Contribution of Eco-towns Pat Willoughby Director David Lock Associates 30 April 2009 Natural Capital Initiative Savoy Place London

  2. Changing Demographics

  3. Household Formation versus Planned and Actual New Dwelling Supply(2002-03) Average new householdformations* Thousands ofnew households/dwellingsper year RPG targets** Averagenew dwellingsupply Notes: *Household formation figures are averages for 2001-06 (ODPM 2003-based household projections) **RPG6 & 9 for East of England, London Plan, RPG9 for South East of EnglandSources: Draft South East Plan, GLA Housing Survey, East of England Regional Housing Strategy, ODPM, RPG6, RPG9

  4. The Sustainable Communities Plan • ODPM (now CLG) Growth Area Funding (including Thames Gateway) of £1.2Bn between 2003 and 2008 • £200m Community Infrastructure Fund transport schemes • 10 new local delivery vehicles in newer growth areas • Thames Gateway Strategy - £6Bn commitment across Government • With Thames Gateway 200,000 additional units to 2016

  5. The Sustainable Communities Plan

  6. Climate Change

  7. Ever-increasing Emissions

  8. An Uneven Distribution

  9. Sustainable Development

  10. Definition of sustainable development by the Brundtland Commission in 1987 “Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

  11. Hammarby Sjöstad, Stockholm

  12. Freiburg, Germany

  13. “We can combine the building of new houses with low carbon and carbon-free homes. We can combine the building of homes with the building of communities with combined heat and power and a whole range of eco-measures, including better public transport and cycle lanes that actually make it possible for us to have a very much higher quality of life in our new buildings and in our new towns. That’s what lies behind a proposal for Eco-Towns.” The Prime Minister, 13 May 2007

  14. Eco-towns: Key Criteria • small new towns of 5-20,000 homes • linked communities • zero carbon • exemplary in at least one environmental technology • good local facilities • 30-50% affordable housing • strong delivery organisation

  15. DCLG April 2008

  16. Eco-Town Standards: Zero Carbon “Over a year the net carbon dioxide emissions from all energy use within the buildings on the development are zero or below” Draft Eco-towns PPS para 4.3

  17. Eco-Town Standards: Homes • Building for Life Silver Standard • Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes • HCA Lifetime Homes Standard • Real-time energy monitoring systems • High speed broadband access • High levels of energy efficiency in fabric • Carbon reductions of at least 70% relative to Building Regs

  18. Eco-Town Standards: Employment • Provided in mixed use development • One job per dwelling • Reduce commuting - walk, cycle and use public transport

  19. Eco-Town Standards: Transport • Reduce car use • 50% of trips by non-car means • Transport choices from ‘day one’ • 10 minutes walk to frequent public transport • Maximum walking distance to school of 800m

  20. Eco-Town Standards: Green Infrastructure • 40% of the total area to become green space • 50% of this public open space • Multi-functional rather than single use • Opportunities for local food production

  21. Eco-Town Standards: Biodiversity • Conserving and enhancing • Management of local ecosystems • Restoration of degraded habitats • Creation of replacement habitats

  22. Eco-Town Standards: Water • Greater efficiency • Water cycle strategies • Flood prevention • SUDS • Aspirations for water neutrality

  23. Eco-Town Standards: Flood Risk Management • Flood Zone 1 – all of built up areas • Flood Zone 2 – open space, recreation, flood storage • Flood Zone 3 – no development

  24. Eco-Town Standards: Waste and Resources Plan • Residual waste levels – lower than 2007 National Waste Strategy for 2020 • Separate collection of 7 priority waste materials • Use of locally generated waste as fuel source for CHP • No construction, demolition and excavation waste sent to landfill

  25. Challenges • planning process • politically charged • timescale • collapsed property market • experimental technologies • capacity of the private sector

  26. Valuing Our Life Support Systems The Contribution of Eco-towns Pat Willoughby Director David Lock Associates 30 April 2009 Natural Capital Initiative Savoy Place London

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