Pat WilloughbyDirectorDavid Lock Associates

30 April 2009

Valuing Our Life Support Systems

The Contribution of Eco-towns

Natural Capital InitiativeSavoy Place

London

Changing Demographics

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

London South East of England East of England

Thousands ofnew households/

dwellingsper year

Average new householdformations*

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 England

Sources: Draft South East Plan, GLA Housing Survey, East of England Regional Housing Strategy, ODPM, RPG6, RPG9

RPG targets**

Household Formation versus Planned and Actual New Dwelling Supply(2002-03)

Averagenew dwellingsupply

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

The Sustainable Communities Plan

Climate Change

Ever-increasing Emissions

An Uneven Distribution

Sustainable Development

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.”

Hammarby Sjöstad, Stockholm

Freiburg, Germany

“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

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

DCLG April 2008

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

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

Eco-Town Standards:

Employment

• Provided in mixed use development

• One job per dwelling

• Reduce commuting - walk, cycle and use public transport

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

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

Eco-Town Standards:

Biodiversity

• Conserving and enhancing

• Management of local ecosystems

• Restoration of degraded habitats

• Creation of replacement habitats

Eco-Town Standards:

Water

• Greater efficiency

• Water cycle strategies

• Flood prevention

• SUDS

• Aspirations for water neutrality

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

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

Challenges

• planning process

• politically charged

• timescale

• collapsed property market

• experimental technologies

• capacity of the private sector

Pat WilloughbyDirectorDavid Lock Associates

30 April 2009

Valuing Our Life Support Systems

The Contribution of Eco-towns

Natural Capital InitiativeSavoy Place

London