New eco-town guidance published

The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) has published new guidance, sponsored by Government, entitled Developing energy efficient and zero carbon strategies for eco-towns. This is the eleventh and final Worksheet in the Eco-town Worksheet series on the effective delivery of eco-towns, and its intention is to provide background information and guidance that will assist those involved in eco-town delivery.

Delivering an eco-town requires additional thought and focus over and above ‘normal processes’. It is a long-term commitment which needs consistent direction through periods that are longer than election cycles or individual political administrations.This Worksheet therefore concentrates on the opportunities and responsibilities that will occur when delivering an exemplar eco-town, and on the steps that can be taken to grasp them fully

TCPA Energy Policy Manager, Kate Henderson, said: 'The UN Copenhagen Conference finishing this week highlights the scale of the climate change challenge and the urgent need for us to take action. Climate change demands a fundamental re-think about the ways in which we plan for our communities - not simply by adding eco-bling onto individual houses and buildings. Planning must become ‘carbon aware', developing an understanding throughout the planning and design process of the relationship between development decisions, energy use and carbon emissions.

'Eco-towns present a unique opportunity to lay down low and zero carbon solutions across a whole new settlement and they must demonstrate how planning can make a significant and positive difference to controlling carbon emissions.'

The eco-towns energy worksheet maintains that eco-towns as a whole must be zero carbon. The worksheet aligns with the Government's definition of zero carbon being developed for new homes. This is based on a hierarchical approach to carbon saving through energy efficiency, on-site energy generation and connected heat as far as possible, backed up by near and off site allowable solutions.

In an eco-town however, unlike other developments, the zero carbon goal applies to emissions arising from energy use not just in homes, but also from all other buildings and public spaces across the town. The worksheet considers what that means and explores the principles of developing a zero carbon strategy for an eco-town. The guidance is intended not just for eco-town developers and planners, but also for all those who will manage the new settlements and work with the new communities.

TCPA Chief Executive, Gideon Amos OBE, said: 'Faced with the urgent need to minimise our carbon emissions and provide renewable and secure energy sources, eco-towns must lead the way in supplying energy efficiently, promoting renewable energy generation and minimising energy consumption throughout the year. Eco-town masterplans, building designs and their zero carbon strategies will need to offer an integrated solution to multiple challenges, including designing for reduced energy demand and for comfort and climate change adaptability; flexibility to integrate future low carbon techniques and technologies; and avoidance of spending on redundant ‘future-proofing'. They must draw on the latest advances in promising low and zero carbon technologies in the UK and around the world.'

The TCPA gratefully acknowledges the support provided by Communities and Local Government in sponsoring the Eco-towns Worksheets. The TCPA also is very grateful to the many groups and individuals who contributed their skills, experience and knowledge to the production of this Worksheet.

The Energy Worksheet is the tenth eco-town Worksheet, following on from transport, community development, water cycle management, green infrastructure, economy, towards zero waste, inclusive design, housing and biodiversity Worksheets. The final Worksheet topic to be developed will be on eco-town delivery. Once they are all published, the Worksheets will together represent a comprehensive set of planning and policy advice on the range of subject areas to be addressed and the standards to be met when planning an eco-town.

These Worksheets are best practice guidance being made available as a resource for planning and designing eco-towns. The TCPA believes that only eco-town proposals that have the potential to meet the highest standards demanded should be given the go-ahead.