ECO Towns

The Government has today - April 3rd - agreed a shortlist of 15 locations for the construction of ECO towns.

What is particularly noticable about the proposed locations is that they all identify existing towns or villages while the ECO town statement is that these are new communities! More than that they are being stated as sustainable communities.

This is surely of concern as what could be a brilliant idea for creating an attractive community that utilisies so many practical positive lessons that have been learnt from new developments such as poundbury, risks being no more than yet another over large, housing estate bolted on to an established working community. That existing community then being submerged.

Taking a look at Ashford that keeps being trumpeted as sustainable development. All there is in terms of new development are large sweeps of soul destroying unimaginative boxes. It is not sustainable, that is just a tag placed on new housing estates to fool the public. For ECO Town - read Echo Town - we've heard it all before!

Ms Flint said: "Bidders will have to meet the highest standards for sustainability, affordability and creativity. This expert panel will challenge developers to the limits." And how many cocktail parties will be needed before the right developer is selected. How many local builders will get a look in. What about self builders who have the best record for quality, innovation and sustainability?

What should an ECO town be.

New, not based on an existing community. That will force the developers to consider and build new infrastructure such as pubs, community facilities, restuarants, shops, playing fields, play parks.

A railway station - why not build one of these towns at the old Snowdon Colliery site. There is a working railway station in the middle of kent with barely any community near by to use it!.

Woodlands. It is almost certain that these towns will specify biomass heating as part of the CO2 free aspect. Lets not have them import fuel from somebody else's community as is likely to happen with the proposed towns.

Lots of space for self builds. Not only will this result in exciting new properties, it will also take away some of the massive profit that the developers will be rubbing their hands over. In fact, why not define one of the towns as self build only! I can't see that happening as on the one hand it will take away any opportunity of the normal kick backs and petty corruption that seems to be endemic in too many council planning departments. It also risk showing up the poor quality of property being built by developers!

Everything freehold. Developers are increasinly using the trick of leasehold in order to sell, and keep selling the same thing. It is an evil trick. Leasehold should be wound up and dispensed with, its a throwback to the feudal system and largely retained to keep the Duke of Westminster happy so that he doesn't risk losing his vast central London estate!

Design in Parking and access. Lets get rid of these awful twee little housing estate roads that wind in and out and are barely wide enough for two cars. They do nothing but irritate, they don't benefit the people who live on the estate and just cause arguments! Look at what the Dutch and Danes do. Assume every three bed house will have two cars and allow for that.

Cycle Lanes and Footpaths. Lots of them, cycle parking at the (brand new ) station and at the shops and community facilities. Why not include a yellow bikes scheme from the start!

Identify the town centre. Housing estates don't have centres, they are impersonal people storage areas!

Provide activities for the kids from the start. Youth clubs, cinema, what about a café, soda bar, diner, even a concrete box with a light that can be theirs.

Ownership. Foster a community ownership from the start. It doesn't belong to the state or the local authority, it belongs to the community!

Solar Thermal, Solar PV, Ground Source heat pumps, Insulation, conservatories, rainwater storage, grey water recycling, wind trubines. All has to be installed at the start, all has to be maintainable and why not use local suppliers and contractors! Sadly these new developers will use over priced high profit margin equipment that is suited to the needs of the developer rather than the community.