Increased car use 'could damage eco-towns' environmental credibility' » Housing » 24dash.com

The environmental benefits delivered by eco-towns could be undermined by increased car use if they’re put in the wrong places, according to the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).

Caroline Flint today told the Ecobuild Conference that all eco-towns would be subjected to “robust and transparent” scrutiny.

She also announced that eventually every new building in Britain will have to be built to zero carbon specifications. This latest announcement follows a commitment that all homes built from 2016 must be zero carbon. 

However, the RTPI has warned that any environmental positives delivered as a result of the creation of eco-towns and promotion of carbon neutral buildings will be written off if the new developments lead to an increase in the length and number of car journeys.   

RTPI Policy Director, Rynd Smith, said: “We strongly support the Government’s push to make development environmentally sustainable.

"But if carbon neutral developments are in areas where there are no public transport links, no jobs or services and nothing to do it won’t matter how eco-friendly the buildings are because everyone who lives there will be spending most of their time behind the wheel of a car.

"This is particularly the case for eco-towns which, if poorly placed, could end up miles from the supporting services communities require.

“The Government needs to think about how it is going to put people in sustainable locations, not just sustainable buildings.”