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Eco town judging panel announced

Posted: 09/04/2008

The government's panel of green building 'experts', who will be called on to advise on the environmental credentials of the proposed eco towns have been named. TV presenters, environmentalists and planning experts have all been included in the advisory body.

Their job will be to assess the various proposals put forward by intending developers and weed out those which are insufficiently green, advising bidders on issues such as encouraging public transport and appropriate house design.

The idea of a panel of experts was mentioned by housing minister Caroline Flint when she announced the shortlist of 15 potential eco town sites last week. The government's well publicised initiative aims to build up to 10 zero-carbon communities of 5,000 to 20,000 homes by 2020. They say the settlements will be 'exemplars' of environmental sustainability and affordable housing.

Reactions to the publication of the shortlist ranged from extremely favourable to absolute dismay, some organisations see the new towns as a green way to solve a growing housing crisis, while others fear that existing communities, countryside and facilities will be damaged by them.

According to the Department of Communities and Local Government the Eco-towns Challenge panel will be chaired by John Walker, former chief executive of the British Urban Regeneration Association. TV presenters Kris Murrin and Joanna Yarrow are also on the panel.

They will be joined by designer Wayne Hemingway, Stephen Hale, director of Green Alliance, Liz Goodwin, chief executive of Waste and Resources Action Programme, and Sir Peter Hall, president of the Town and Country Planning Association.

Also on the panel are Stephen Joseph, executive director of the Campaign for Better Transport, Nick Mabey, chief executive of E3G, Sunand Prasad, president-elect of the Royal Institute of British Architects, Liz Reason, of the AECB and director of the Reasons to Be Cheerful consultancy, and Sue Riddlestone, director of the BioRegional Development Group.

DCLG said the panel members would be paid a small remuneration for their work.

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