“Grow Your Own” Guidance For Eco-towns
Food, Housing, Planning, relocalisation
All residents of proposed new eco-towns should have access to land where they can grow their own food, according to new guidance drawn up by the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA).
The guidance, just published in the TCPA’s latest worksheet ‘The essential role of green infrastructure’, makes a number of recommendations for developers.
- Developers should provide at least one major, well-equipped park in the eco-town, offering a variety of facilities for all age groups
- Every eco-town resident should have access to land, private or communal, to grow their own food.
- Developers should also look to forge supply links between eco-town residents, local food producers, processors and distributors to showcase the “relocalisation” of sustainable food production
- A network of “greenways” should be included to connect between larger or more expansive open spaces
- Safe-routes should be developed across a network of streets between open spaces and parks and homes and schools to encourage children to play without danger from traffic
- Open spaces should have a major role to play in contributing to sustainable transport, energy efficiency, water and drainage management, whilst ensuring a unique sense of place, heritage and local landscape character
At the launch of the eco-town worksheet on green infrastructure TCPA chief executive Gideon Amos said: “New settlements today could reinvent garden city living for a new, low-carbon century.”
Helen Phillips, chief executive of Natural England, said: “Eco-towns must have green spaces at their hearts, providing health and exercise benefits for the communities who live there, new habitats for wildlife and places for people to enjoy the natural environment.”
The green infrastructure worksheet is the fourth eco-town worksheet, following on from transport, community development and water cycle management worksheets launched in March 2008. Other topics in the pipeline include biodiversity, housing & inclusive design, towards zero-waste, energy, and the economy & ‘green collar’ jobs. Once they are all published, the worksheets will together represent a comprehensive set of policy and planning guidance on the range of subject areas to be addressed and the standards to be met when planning an eco-town.
It’s going to be interesting to see whether anyone takes any notice.
Download Eco-town Water Cycle Management Worksheet
Download Eco-town Community Worksheet
Download Eco-town Transport Worksheet
Sphere: Related ContentPete Smith @ September 19, 2008
Yes, it makes sense for eco-town residents to have access to growing their own vegetables.
The recommendations there are sensible and in keeping with the whole eco-ethos. It would all be a bit pointless otherwise. But sure, let’s see if anyone takes notice.