EcoTowns - The Future?
Posted: Friday, January 23, 2009
by Sara O'Rourke
No government is going to give in to an investment without a fight. The UK government has proposed to promote up to 10 Eco-Towns across England, in a bid to follow the European lead to save the environment and create new homes simultaneously. To stiffen the challenge, they have set their standards sky high; to achieve an absolute increase in housing numbers, to create affordable homes, achieve superb standards of design and sustainability, all the while not adding significantly to public expenditure. Let's not forget, as well, that the government demands all this at a time when we are experiencing a sharp, if not needle-like downturn in the private housing market. Too much to ask? Are Eco-Towns really in the stars for us?
Although there are doubts voiced that we must not be too quick to rely on the European model for they incoportate different cultural and political factors which are not replicable in this country, the UK has already demonstrated that she can pioneer when it comes to sustainable residential communities - take new towns such as Milton Keynes. At any rate, there is a dire need for housing, and mimicking, for example, the VINEX programme in the Netherlands, may match their result of increasing the stock of houses by 7.5%. We shouldn't be too quick to dismiss. Moreover, research evidence from MORI has suggested that generally people are happier in Continental Europe - predominantly children.
So, if Eco-Towns are really the future, what duties must they fulfil? One of the key things that must be taken into consideration early in the planning stages is communication and connectivity. If we are to attract buyers and employers to the Eco-Town, and if we are to see that it continues to expand and prosper, then proximity to a main railway line (such as in Freiburg, or Adamstown,) is essential. Building by growing cities gives access to jobs and services, too. Furthermore, research by Savills also demonstrates that on the whole, people favour established locations with good schools - hence being close to a recognised location will satisfy such requirements.
Another major factor to take into account is climate proofing of the Eco-Town. Its selling point is, after all, its appreciation for the environment. Although no project will claim to be 100% zero-Carbon, existing Eco-Towns have set ambitious targets for improvements in environmental performance. In Kronsberg, for instance, the aim is to reduce CO2 emissions by 60%. In Freiburg, the prokects aim to use solar energy on a large scale. In both Germany and the Netherlands, wind turbines are common place, and use is also being made of ground-source heat pumps.
To achieve this, we must build simply. Whilst protecting and maintaining aesthetic appeal, construction will rely on high standards of insulation and air tightness. All new schemes will make substantial use of local energy generation as in the form of CHP gas, which alone has the potential to reduce CO2 gas emissions by 30%. Outside of the home, encouragement for a modal shift from car usage to that of public transport, cycling and walking is also a necessity. Eco-Towns must also have strong character, as well as the support of agencies with long-term interest and active leadership.
Conclusively, the idea of an Eco-Town future is not as bad as perhaps envisioned. With a solid and successful, functioning example to work from, we really have no excuses to make. It seems that they are the future, and we should brace ourselves to give up our cars and get cycling!
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