News
Landscape failed in eco-town plans, says Landscape Institute
4th July 2008
The importance of landscape is neglected in the Government’s eco-towns plans, the Landscape Institute said this week.
Chair of the Landscape Institute Policy Committee Jon Lovell said eco-towns provided “an outstanding opportunity” but warned that the sustainability of the proposed eco-towns depended on the integration of landscape planning, design and management. He said that green space needed to be viewed as essential infrastructure – as equally as important as roads, services and other ‘grey’ infrastructure’ components.
Lovell, also the Head of Sustainability at property consultants Drivers Jonas, spoke out after the consultation period on eco-towns ended on June 30.
He said: “The Landscape Institute is disappointed that this consultation document does not sufficiently value the landscape context of eco-town development. We urge the Department for Communities and Local Government to revise the eco-towns guidance to require a full landscape and visual impact analysis. This is something that is not currently a requirement and represents a serious oversight. The development of the new eco-towns must be based on landscape character as part of the place-making agenda.
“Landscape planning, design and management is absolutely critical to the sustainability of eco-towns. The eco-towns provide an outstanding opportunity to create sustainable towns and opportunities. One of the primary means to achieving this is adequate investment in the planning, design and on-going management of green infrastructure. Eco-towns present an opportunity to demonstrate true multi-functional green space dealing with not just climate change adaptation and mitigation but also community cohesion, health and well being, recreation and food provision. It is an absolute requirement that high quality green infrastructure is demonstrated throughout all eco-town developments.”
Lovell said he believed that the design and functionality of open space could be more important to adapting to climate, contributing to energy efficiency and effective water management than the delivery of houses to Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes and that all streets should be tree-lined, with tree planting required as a significant component for all public and private open spaces. He also called for full consideration of the use of green roofs and walls, including the use of climbing plants.
He added: “It is an absolute requirement that high quality green infrastructure is demonstrated throughout all eco-town developments. There is a real need to properly design green space and appreciate its value as essential infrastructure – infrastructure that is equally critical to the success of the settlements as roads, services and other “grey” infrastructure components.”
The Landscape Institute also supports Natural England’s recommendation that no one should live more than 300m from their nearest area of natural greenspace of at least 2ha in size rather than follow the current proposal of one acre of green space provision per 400 homes.
