Jul 17 2009
Greener living in Britain's first eco-towns will become a reality for up to 30,000 people in five years' time, as Housing Minister John Healey today announced the four sites that have passed the Government's tough standards to go through to the next planning phase, full public consultation and local planning approval.
Alongside the plans for eco-towns, Mr Healey announced tougher new energy standards for all new homes from 2016 to be zero carbon and launched a review to combine the Government's climate change and renewable energy planning policy statements.
With more than a quarter of Britain's CO2 emissions produced from homes, the announcements are a major step towards meeting the Government's green policy pledges and Britain's transition to a low carbon country.
The successful eco-town sites will pioneer innovative design and infrastructure for greener living. They are Whitehill-Bordon in Hampshire, St Austell (China Clay) in Cornwall, Rackheath in Norfolk and North West Bicester in Oxfordshire. These sites have met the Government's tough standards during two years of thorough assessment.
Mr Healey announced that developers in the four successful locations will be able to bid for a share of £60m to support local infrastructure. He said he wanted to see at least six second wave areas and is making up to £5m available for councils to conduct further planning work on proposals.
Eco-towns will include:
- the toughest standards for sustainability, with smart meters to track energy use, community heat sources and charging points for electric cars
- smart, efficient, affordable homes taking their energy from the sun, wind and earth. Residents will be able to control the heat and ventilation of their homes at the touch of a button; and sell their surplus energy into the grid
- all homes located within ten minutes' walk of frequent public transport and everyday neighbourhood services
- parks, playgrounds and gardens that will make up 40 per cent - two fifths - of the towns. Children will attend local zero carbon schools, making use of the paths and cycle ways
- zero carbon buildings including shops, restaurants and public buildings. Car journeys will make up less than half of all journeys. And all the homes will reach at least level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes - including standards for energy efficiency, recycling, water efficiency and reduced pollution - saving a typical home £200-500 a year in energy bills.
The Prime Minister Gordon Brown said:
"The revolutionary concept of eco towns is a unique opportunity for us to confront two of the most urgent priorities as we embark on Building Britain's Future.
"Eco-towns will help to relieve the shortage of affordable homes to rent and buy and to minimise the effects of climate change on a major scale. They will provide modern homes with lower energy bills, energy efficient offices and brand new schools, community centres and services.
"I am delighted that Whitehill-Bordon, St Austell, Rackheath and North West Bicester have all been chosen to be pioneers for these new green communities and I hope people will seize the opportunity to be at the forefront of Britain's green revolution."
Housing Minister John Healey said:
"If Britain is going to be successful and safe from climate change in the future, we have to change the way we live now. More than a quarter of CO2 emissions come from houses, so we are not only making improvements now, we are establishing pioneering places that in ten years' time will set the standard for every new town and community.
"We are leading the way on the world stage with these developments by radically rethinking how we design, plan and build our homes we can create zero carbon developments, which combine affordable housing with new green infrastructures and a higher quality of life.
"I recognise that the proposals can raise strong opinions, but climate change threatens us all and with our commitment to the eco-towns we are taking steps to meet this challenge and help build more affordable housing.
"We said we wanted to see up to ten eco-towns by 2020. Despite the recession I am giving the green light today to the first four pioneering proposals and making the offer to work with and help fund six more. The standards are high but I am confident of wider interest from developers and councils.
"One in three of Britain's homes in 2050 will be built between now and then, so we have to set clear, green standards for the future. I am confirming that all new homes from 2016 will have to meet a tough zero carbon standard, so they are cleaner, greener and cheaper to run. I'm publishing details of how designers and developers will have to meet this zero carbon commitment and we will work closely with the industry on the innovative building techniques and technologies required for the future."
Rossington near Doncaster and North-East Elsenham in Essex are still developing proposals for their sites and these could draw on the £5m second wave funding and wider government support available. Across the country interest is still high and many local authorities are considering development plans.
In a Parliamentary statement, Mr Healey confirmed tougher standards for all new homes to be zero carbon from 2016 and a review of the climate change planning policy statement, to ensure that it reflects the Government's recently announced climate change ambitions and provides a clear and up to date route map to carbon reductions by 2020 and beyond.
John Healey said:
"Planning is at the heart of delivering our ambitious climate change targets. The scale of the challenge is now clear, as is the imperative to plan and design for a low carbon economy. We will therefore review and combine the climate change and renewable energy PPSs, consulting in detail on proposals by the end of 2009."
It was also confirmed that the first tranche of successful bids for the HCA's low carbon infrastructure funding had been assigned to projects across the country. £11.85m will be shared across seven projects around the UK. This was first launched by the HCA in May as part of the Housing Stimulus Package set out in the Budget.