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What's Holding Back the UK's 'Eco-Towns'

Posted by: Nate Berg

26 June 2009 - 10:00am

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's grand plans for 10 carbon-neutral 'eco-towns' haven't lived up to their fanfare, according to some. Now as things move forward, the goals have been watered down a bit.

Much of the reason for the plan falling short is reportedly NIMBYism from residents near proposed sites. Only two of the ten projects appear to be moving ahead.

"For better or for worse, this grand plan is not going to happen. What is going to happen is that, early next month, the government will announce, with great fanfare, the location of Britain’s first ‘eco-towns’. One that will definitely make the cut is Rackheath, a 3,500-home scheme on a former Ministry of Defence site in Norfolk. Another that is strongly tipped to come on stream is St Austell, a 5,000-home scheme on the site of a former china clay pit in Cornwall. Both proposals are local authority-led and are in existing development plans.

But these are not the brave new ‘Brown’s towns’ that were envisaged."

Full Story: Whatever happened to eco-towns?
Source: Architects' Journal, June 25, 2009
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There are limits to the amount of pollution the environment can absorb without reducing ecosystem services and impairing both human health and the sustainability of our economy.
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