1. b s h fb s h f www.bshf.org Eco-towns An English policy response to sustainable urbanisation Jim Vine – Head of Programme (UK Housing Policy and Practice) Presentation to Conference on Sustainable Urbanisation ECOSOC Chamber, United Nations Headquarters, New York – 13 May 2009

2. b s h fb s h f www.bshf.org BSHF  Founded 1976  Independent housing research charity  Guiding principles Innovative and forward looking Identifying solutions rather than problems All research to have practical relevance People centred – building people as well as houses Sustainable development – looking to the long-term  Eleven members of staff and annual expenditure of $1,200,000  Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council

3. b s h fb s h f www.bshf.org Context  Housing need  Limited space to develop  Inequality  Urban flight  Environmental commitments  Development technologies

4. b s h fb s h f www.bshf.org Context - Housing need  “Acute housing shortage” 1.77 million households on housing registers  250,000 new homes per year needed  Affordability crisis

5. b s h fb s h f www.bshf.org Context - Limited space to develop  Small island nation  Perceptions of over-development  Space limited

6. b s h fb s h f www.bshf.org Context - Opposition  NIMBYs Not In My Back Yard  NOTEs Not Over There Either  BANANAs Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything

7. b s h fb s h f www.bshf.org Context - Inequality  Poverty Especially relative poverty Child poverty targets  Asset inequality

8. b s h fb s h f www.bshf.org Context - Urban flight  Families moving to rural / village locations  Commuting into cities for work and services  Capture a strong urban offer

9. b s h fb s h f www.bshf.org Context - Environmental commitments  80% reduction by 2050  Housing significant contributor Code for sustainable homes Existing stock Source: zerocarbonbritain

10. b s h fb s h f www.bshf.org Context - Development technologies  Slow uptake of techniques  Absence of relevant skills  Lack of market For buildings made with sustainability in mind For techniques

11. b s h fb s h f www.bshf.org Eco-towns  new settlements  5,000 and 15,000 families  affordable  zero carbon  equipped with services  attractive places  developed with the community for the community

12. b s h fb s h f www.bshf.org

13. b s h fb s h f Eco-towns - infrastructure  more than 50 per cent of trips by foot, bicycle or public transport  reducing residents’ reliance on the car  homes within 10 minutes’ walk of frequent public transport and neighbourhood services

14. b s h fb s h f www.bshf.org Eco-towns - ICT  real-time energy monitoring systems,  real-time public transport information and  high-speed broadband access.

15. b s h fb s h f www.bshf.org Pennbury  Proposed by Cooperative Group  Leicestershire  Mostly farmland, some brownfield  www.ecotownforleicestershire.coop/ www.ecotownforleicestershire.coop/

19. b s h fb s h f www.bshf.org ICTs for community participation  Future – Community Window  Present – online Government information Proposal information Opposition www.stopthecoopecotown.org

20. b s h fb s h f www.bshf.org Closing thoughts  Sustainability Environmental Financial Social Governance  Exemplar and market maker

21. b s h fb s h f www.bshf.org Thank you  Contact: bshf@bshf.org www.bshf.org 01530 510 444