The Sustainability and Challenges of Eco-Town Project - Essay Example

?England “Eco Towns Housing Development Introduction One of the end products of urbanisation is the emergence of megacities mainly in developed anddeveloping countries. Overcrowding has raised numerous constraints to public life as well as to the successful operation of risk management in megacities. In order to overcome the difficulties attributed to urbanisation, the government of England has brought forth an innovative concept called Eco-towns, which proposes the establishment of new towns across the country in selected locations. Through this programme, the government intends to achieve improved standards of sustainability with regard to urban development and community life. As the preliminary step, Department for Communities and Local Government announced a project to build up 10 eco-towns. This project proposal was duly supported by organisations such as Town and Country Planning Association. However, some institutions are sceptical about the success of the proposed project. Although the government got many suggestions on the proposed eco-towns, none of the plans was worth enough to ensure the effectiveness of the project framework. Subsequent to the long term discussions and consultation, the government published a new planning policy statement in 2009 that contained the basic ideas for the eco-towns. This paper will explore the sustainability of England’s eco-towns from a planning perspective. Features of England’s eco-town project England’s eco-town project is an innovative idea as it is highly relevant to the modern concept of infrastructural development. One of the objectives of eco-town project agreement is to build up 5,000 to 15,000 low carbon homes. The most significant feature of this project is that it would sharply comply with the framed set of environmental criteria; and hence the whole town under this plan would be carbon neutral (Eco-Town Report). This fascinating feature of the new project would assist the nation to mitigate its energy consumption rates. Similarly, the infrastructural facilities designed for this project ensure the public access to adjacent towns and cities in order to satisfy their requirements including jobs, transport, and services. Hopefully, a fixed percentage of new homes under this project would be affordable to all people. However, other varieties such as larger houses would also be available under this plan so as to meet the requirements of families with children and poor economic status. In short, the concept of eco-towns addresses the needs of different classes of the society by offering them diverse ranges of lifestyle facilities. In addition, the eco-towns will be leveraged with schools, shops, business space, and other modern facilities within the vicinity. The concept of eco-towns is a modified version of “green towns in Hammarby in Stockholm, Sweden and Vauban in Freiburg, Germany” (Q & A: Ecotowns, 2008). At the initial stage of the project, the government declared 15 locations across the England as the potential area for the project. In order to focus on each project effectively, the government has whittled down the 15 locations to10 after a three months’ local consultation phase. Among the 10 shortlisted locations, the government has decided to build 5 eco-towns by the end of 2016. The construction of remaining half portion of eco-towns has put off to 2020. In order for formulating an effective plan for these towns, some most celebrated architects are still working on this project. As some other notable features, the homes will be south-facing as it enables the ease capture of heat energy from the sun with the application of photovoltaic panels. “There will also be plenty of green spaces, ample cycle lanes, and fewer roads for cars” (Q & A: Ecotowns, 2008). This expansional concept can be attributed to the developmental notions of Gordon Brown, the former prime minister of UK. Housing and environment were the two basic requirements according to Brown’s agenda. By designing this project, he thought to achieve both these basic requirements for it would meet housing needs without hurting the environment. It is evident that effective implementation of this project would greatly help the nation’s healthcare as it would operate closely hand in hand with environmental safety measures. Alan Johnson, the health care secretary of UK opines that eco-towns would benefit the nation to fight against the health care issue of obesity. Likewise, greater expertise in engineering ensures the efficient use of land to avert issues associated with scarcity of land. The efficient application of engineering and infrastructural technologies also adds to the effective prevention of natural calamities such as earthquakes. Moreover, this system is expected to promote social integration which is envisaged as one of the long term benefits of eco-towns project. Sustainability of eco-towns Majority legal officials (as cited in BBC News, 2008) are of the opinion that the proposed project has to possess exemplary sustainability in the areas of energy production and waste disposal (Eco- towns- shortlist is revealed, 2008). Nowadays, energy scarcity is becoming one of the major crises since more and more people tend to rely on non-renewable energy sources. Various scientific studies have indicated that non-renewable energy stock will be run out by 2050 if we continue to exploit them in the same manner. At this juncture, the concept of eco-towns would largely benefit England as this programme involves the technology for making use of solar energy. The adequate and uninterrupted supply of a renewable energy will certainly contribute to the increased productivity and thereby sustainable economic growth of the nation. In the present world, almost all modern production processes without adequate protective measures cause harmful impacts on the globe since they enhance the natural transition of climate change. The unfavorable climate changes will adversely affect all living organisms. However, the proposed eco-towns are capable of tackling the issues associated with climate changes as it does not the hurt the rules of nature. This feature would ensure the sustainability of eco-towns. We have already seen that the whole town would be carbon neutral. As a result, it is possible to eliminate wastages to a large extent, which would lessen the problems related to environmental pollution and global warming. Since the structure of eco-towns is helpful to avert environmental pollution risks, various costs associated with pollution control/impacts can be avoided. For instance, when pollution strikes a country, it seriously impinges country’s healthcare also. In such circumstances, government needs to spend more on healthcare and pollution prevention activities; whereas, the concept of pollution free eco-town would serve the long term interests of the country as it does not require further modifications once it is implemented. Presently, the citizens of England are forced to spend a large portion of their income on housing requirements. The government claims that the new project would aid the people to get relief from the huge expenses associated with housing, which in turn would raise their standard of living. In order to make the programme more sustainable, the government would employ a panel of potential developers who would conduct some tough tests for the assessment of project accuracy. This process may also help the government to get additional suggestions from the experts’ team so as to improve the efficiency of the planned project. “According to BBC environment analyst Roger Harrabin, eco-towns are a way of increasing housing in areas of England where demand outstrips supply” (as cited in ‘Eco-town protesters holding demo’, BBC, 2008). In order to make the proposed programme more acceptable and sustainable, the government has begun reviewing public opinion especially among local people. This procedure may be beneficial to the programme developers in predicting future issues concerned with the designed project. Since this project does not affect the balance of nature, it can greatly contribute to the preservation of both biodiversity and remaining vegetation of the country. Flood risk management and employment are other sustainable opportunities related with the implementation of this project. While dealing with the sustainability of this project, one must consider the range of social integration it proposes, because this plan contains provisions for 30 to 50 percent affordable housing. The government has categorized the eco-towns bids into four groups such as very strong, strong, medium, and poor. This categorization enables the concerned authorities to determine most effective bids. The government has designed a programme named Sustainability Appraisal (SA) under the leadership of Scott Wilson; this programme tries to ensure the authenticity of the framed project (‘Eco-towns: Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulation Assessment of the Eco-Tows Programme 2008). The SA report strongly supports the concept of economically friendly housing project. Weakness of the project Although the eco-towns project is considered as the most potential concept for the England’s environmental concern, residents of several towns and villages strongly oppose the project. As Guardian (Q & A: Ecotowns, 2008) reports, the opponents’ main argument is that the proposed project would impose too much pressure on existing roads and schools; and some others claim that this concept might cause the concretion of new towns over country side. When the government brings all the facilities such as schools, transport, and other services within the selected towns, England’s trade activities may largely focus on these eco-towns. It will certainly cause further difficulties to nations’ traditional industrialists. Therefore, it is obvious that the villagers and other rural people would not get much benefit from this project. Perhaps, the concept may adversely affect the villagers since it reduces rural people’s participation in the industrial operations. Sometimes, it may also badly affect the nation’s overall growth since this project emphasis on city people. As per the terms of the project, it is observed that eco-towns are very expensive to build. Since this project includes ranges of environment protective measures, it is necessary to employ ultra-modern technologies which would probably incur higher costs. The anticipated outcomes of this project would come true only years after its implementation. As BBC reports (Eco- towns- shortlist is revealed’, 2008), the exceeding emphasis on this project would impede the development of local housing plans and strategies. Most of these opponent groups have strong support from local MPs and councils and it amplifies the intensity of the issue. The project of eco-towns is a broad concept which requires large land area for the successful launching of the project. If the project confronts with scarcity of land during its implementation phase, the government may acquire private land. Even if the government would pay for land; sometimes land owners may not get reasonable value for their property. The implementation of this huge project would negatively affect the geographical structure of the villages. In addition, sociologists believe that the proposed concept will surely affect the distribution of different communities across the nation. There is no unanimous opinion regarding the selection of 10 locations for the development of the proposed project. Suggestions Despite the strong opposition, obviously the eco-town will largely benefit the England’s economy if it is implemented right way with necessary changes. The main drawback of the project is that it gives little emphasis on the development of village communities. It is advisable for the project committee to make new project provisions that interconnect socio-economic activities of eco-towns and villages. The government can seek other potential investors as stakeholders of the project, which would reduce governmental liability. Above all, it is essential to ensure the support of the locale throughout every phase of the project. Conclusion The above discussion has critically analysed the sustainability and challenges of the England’s eco-town project. The project aims at building 10 carbon neutral towns in England. The project would minimise issues associated with environmental pollution as it includes minimum wastage policies. In addition, the project aims at utilising the solar energy in order for addressing the energy shortage in the nation. Since this concept employs better infrastructural and engineering technologies, it may contribute to more advanced form of disaster prevention. The government appointed panel of experts for the sustainability appraisal has already submitted a positive report. Inhabitants of some villages and some social groups are vehemently opposing the project as they think this concept would lead to the emergence of new towns over countryside. Evidently, adequate modifications in the concept and strategic implementation of the same would make the project an outstanding one. References ‘Eco- towns- shortlist is revealed’, 2008, BBC News, viewed 14 March 2011 ‘Eco-towns: Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulation Assessment of the Eco-Tows Programme 2008, Communities and Local Government, viewed 14 March 2011 ‘Eco-town protesters holding demo’, 2008, BBC News, viewed 14 March 2011 Homes & Communities Academy (n. d), ‘Executive summary: Learning from Europe on eco- towns’, Eco Town Report: Learning from Europe on eco-towns, viewed 14 March 2011 ‘Q & A: Ecotowns’ 2008, guardian.co.uk, viewed 14 March 2011 Read More