Centre for Cities response to the Government's eco-town shortlist
Date: 03/04/2008
Thursday 3rd April
In response to the Government's announcement of the top fifteen proposals for the new eco-town sites across the country, Dermot Finch, director of Centre for Cities said:
"Eco-towns will provide only a fraction of the new housing our economy needs. Denser, greener development in our cities would be a far better way to tackle climate change, create successful local economies, and meet the government's own housing targets.
"Most of these eco-town sites are based in the countryside, far away from the majority of jobs found in larger city centres. With tight public spending, there's little scope for funding new transport links to these new settlements. Many eco-town residents will rely heavily on their cars and generate both congestion and emissions.
"There's still time to focus energies on city neighbourhoods - which could be transformed into carbon-friendly eco-quarters. These would generate both economic and environmental wins - by offering greater public transport choice and easier access to jobs and services. We need to make the best of our existing cities and towns."
For more information, please contact:
Rosamund Taylor, Centre for Cities, 0207 803 4316
Mobile: 07876 175 426
r.taylor@centreforcities.org
Notes to editors
The Centre for Cities will be looking at the links between denser cities, environmental sustainability and economic growth over the coming months.
The Centre for Cities will also be looking into ‘greening' Britain's urban buildings, with the All-Party Urban Development Group, which is conducting an inquiry into climate change and the built environment. The Inquiry will take place in the House of Commons on the 12th May 2008. Its final report will be released in July.
Centre for Cities research has shown that transport links between cities and surrounding areas generate important economic benefits; and that density is a key factor in advancing economic growth:
City Links by Paula Lucci and Paul Hildreth looked into the importance of transport and economic links between the UK's largest cities and their surrounding cities and towns.
The case for better transport investment: Agglomeration and growth in the Leeds City Region by Adam Marshall and Chris Webber counted the hidden economic benefits of improving transport links between Leeds City Centre and the surrounding area.
