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TCPA urges all to respond to eco town consultation

Posted: 06/11/2008

The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA)has welcomed the sustainability benchmarks set out in the new policy consultation on eco towns, but says the Government should begin planning to implement eco standards in existing towns and cities as well. Organisations representing a wide range of people - from those unable to get on the housing ladder, elderly people, carers and students, to those concerned with the environment, designers and architects - have signed up to the eco towns concept.

The TCPA is now stressing the opportunities for all these people and is urging them to respond to the Governments consultation on the draft Planning Policy Statement (PPS) on eco towns.

TCPA Chief Executive Gideon Amos said: "The draft PPS on eco towns and the TCPA/CLG eco towns Worksheets both set out standards more demanding than for any other development. Zero carbon across the whole town, tough targets for reducing car use and higher indoor and greenspace standards are just a few examples. In an exemplar eco town we have the unique opportunity to capture the benefits of creating an entirely new town to provide an inspiring blueprint for low carbon living".

"Work should start today on how and when the lessons of exemplar eco towns can begin to inform and influence the drive to zero carbon across the existing housing stock in our towns and cities. The success of an exemplar Eco town will pave the way for renewing our current neighbourhoods as eco burbs and urban eco quarters.

The consultation on the draft PPS provides the opportunity for everyone to have their say in a debate too frequently dominated by those shouting the loudest against specific eco towns proposals. The eco town concept and their potential benefits in terms of tackling climate change head on, whilst addressing housing need, is welcomed by the bulk of people. Despite the tough economic circumstances these priorities remain vital to our common future.

The TCPA points out that the creation of eco towns as new settlements allows them to exploit the benefits and opportunities offered by free standing developments. This in turn makes them more able to succeed as exemplar developments. This draft PPS sets out Government policy on the criteria that Eco-towns as new settlements will have to meet.

Amos added: "The best examples of the early Garden Cities and the later New Towns show that new settlements can provide environments that people want to live in, while at the same time they successfully mainstreamed the latest concepts in green living and environmentally friendly development. The most successful also harnessed economic growth to the benefit of wider planning objectives, while others pioneered self build, participation in planning, and community ownership of land and facilities".

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