What is an eco-town?
Eco-towns began as a government initiative in 2007 to provide more environmentally friendly-homes. The Eco-towns Prospectus 2007 (.pdf format, 603Kb) defines eco-towns in the following way:
‘Eco-towns will be small new towns of at least 5-20,000 homes. They are intended to exploit the potential to create a complete new settlement to achieve zero carbon development and more sustainable living using the best new design and architecture. The key features are:
- places with a separate and distinct identity but good links to surrounding towns and cities in terms of jobs, transport and services;
- the development as a whole to achieve zero carbon and to be an exemplar in at least one area of environment technology;
- a good range of facilities within the town including a secondary school, shopping, business space and leisure
- between 30 and 50 per cent affordable housing with a good mix of tenures and size of homes in mixed communities;
- a delivery organisation to manage the town and its development and provide support for people, businesses and community services.’
Eco-towns Prospectus (2007)
At the heart of eco-town development are standards for sustainable design. These standards were set out in the Planning Policy Standards, which have been set by government.
Developments under the coalition government
The coalition government announced continued support for eco-town developments, but have put greater emphasis on the creation of a range of good quality jobs being central to eco-town development.
Eco Bicester was one of only four locations that were selected for eco-town status. The three additional sites are Whitehill Bordon in Hampshire, St. Austell in Cornwall and Rackheath in Norfolk.
Why we need eco-towns
Scientists fear that the UK is already being affected by climate change caused by the greenhouse effect. The past decade has been the warmest since records began in 1850, and the average temperature of British seas has risen by 0.7 degrees Celsius, and the sea has a great influence on our climate. England and Wales have also seen more instances of extreme rainfall in recent years.
These changes cause damage to the balance of ecosystems in the country. They also have a potentially grave financial and emotional impact on us humans, as we are at greater risk of flooding and drought, particularly in low-lying areas.
It is crucial that we act to prevent climate change now, and the eco-town initiative will set an optimistic example on how to do this. Energy saving initiatives will also help all residents of Eco Bicester to save money, live more healthily, and build a stronger and more beautiful community.