Print page
A prototype eco-town
At English Partnerships we tackle sustainability in the round – social, geographical and environmental – and this continued throughout the year. But it was environmental sustainability in particular which was the hot topic dominating the headlines.
The biggest announcement of the year was the shortlisting by Government of 15 potential eco-town sites across England.
The new communities of between 5,000 to 20,000 homes are intended to help meet the need for three million new homes across England by 2020, while simultaneously tackling climate change. The intention is for at least one eco-town in each of the nine English regions, and a decision on the final locations is expected in October.
English Partnerships’ proposed new town at Northstowe in Cambridgeshire is the closest to a prototype eco-town in England to date.
In June, we launched a period of community consultation at Northstowe by unveiling our initial masterplan ideas for 9,500 new homes. Comments received from local residents and other stakeholders were then fed back into the final detailed plans that were submitted to South Cambridgeshire District Council in December.
Ultimately, the new town could have a population of around 24,000 people from all walks of life – large enough to be self-sustaining – with schools, shops and jobs focused around a brand new town centre, while still linked to existing communities.
Social and geographic sustainablility is coupled with environmental sustainability as a fundamental feature of the new town, through a range of measures that will reduce energy consumption and improve water and waste efficiency.
Our experience at Northstowe will be one of the many foundations upon which eco-towns could be developed.
© English Partnerships 2003-2008