Prop-arazzi

Caroline Flint was on sparkling form as she addressed a packed audience at Weber Shandwick this morning. 

Speaking to a room full of industry experts she outlined the Government policy on eco-towns, refurbishment, local government, use of government land and much more.

Watch this space for future event information.

Former landfill sites can now be covered with new woodland according to a DCLG funded report has been published today.

Previously there have been fears that tree roots would penetrate the mineral cap placed over the top of closed landfill sites, allowing dangerous gases to escape.  The new research confirms that it is safe to plant certain types of tree on top of the mineral cap without danger of the gases being released.  This is good news for the Government, who can now “create” green spaces on some of the 2,500 landfill sites across the UK.

Perfect spots for an eco town…

Just one day after David Lock claimed in the Sunday Times that the Government were planning to crash the planning process for eco-town, Caroline Flint has announced an expert panel of advisors.

The “Eco-Town Challenge Team” is made up of fourteen experts who will lay down the challenge to bidders today and ensure that as well as being eco friendly, all houses are well designed, are sensitive to local surroundings and create homes people want to live in.

The fourteen members of the Eco-Towns Challenge Panel are:

1. John Walker (Chair) - Former Chief Executive, British Urban Regeneration Association. Expert in delivery of large mixed use development

2. Dr Liz Goodwin - Chief Executive, Waste and Resource Action Programme (WRAP). Expert in use of natural resources and recycling

3. Stephen Hale - Director, Green Alliance. Environment expert

4. Sir Peter Hall - President, Town and Country Planning Association. Expert in urban issues, housing and planning

5. Wayne Hemingway - Founder, Red or Dead. Expert in design and social issues

6. Stephen Joseph - Executive Director, Campaign for Better Transport. Transport expert

7. Nick Mabey - Chief Executive, E3G. Expert in energy issues and economic development

8. Kris Murrin - TV presenter, expert in sustainable transport and children’s issues

9. Sunand Prasad - Royal Institute of British Architects President. Expert in design and architecture

10. Liz Reason - Director, Reasons to Be Cheerful consultancy. Expert in innovative approaches to energy issues and climate change

11. Sue Riddlestone - Director, BioRegional Development Group. Expert in sustainability and sustainable development

12. Joanna Yarrow - TV presenter, green-lifestyle specialist and founder of sustainability company Beyond Green

13. Richard Simmons - Expert in architecture and the built environment.

14. Lynda Addison - Managing Director of Addison & Associates. Transport and planning expert.

Housing Minister, Caroline Flint, has announced the short list for Gordon Brown’s ten eco-town’s this morning.  The towns are designed with the twin aims of addressing the housing shortage and creating low - or zero - carbon communities in the UK.

The areas on the short list are:

- Pennbury, Leicestershire: 12-15,000 homes on a development incorporating brownfield, greenfield and surplus public sector land. Four miles south east of Leicester. This proposal could include 4,000 new affordable houses in an area of high affordability pressure.

- Manby and Strubby, Lincolnshire: 5,000 homes put forward by East Lindsey District Council on two sites, with large elements of brownfield land including a former RAF base. The proposal complements the strategic plan for the phased relocation of communities on Lincolnshire coast because of high flood risk, and could include 1,500 affordable homes in an area of very high affordability pressure.

- Curborough, Staffordshire: 5,000 homes on the brownfield site of the former Fradley airfield, ten miles from Burton. The proposal could include 2,000 affordable houses in an area of very high affordability pressure.

- Middle Quinton, Warwickshire: 6,000 homes on a former Royal Engineers depot which has a rail link to the Worcester-London rail line. Six miles South West of Stratford upon Avon. The proposal could include 2,000 affordable houses in an area of very high affordability pressure.

- Bordon-Whitehill, Hampshire: 5-8,000 homes on a site owned by the Ministry of Defence. A significant number of ex-MoD homes are already on the site, west of Whitehill-Bordon. The proposal could include 2,000 affordable houses in an area of very high affordability pressure.

- Weston Otmoor, Oxfordshire: 10-15,000 homes on a site adjoining the M40 and the Oxford-Bicester railway. Three miles south west of Bicester, the site includes a current airstrip. The scheme could include between 3,000 and 5,000 affordable homes, in an area of extreme affordability pressure.

- Ford, West Sussex: 5,000 homes on a site which includes brownfield land and the former Ford airfield. Close to rail line linking London and the Sussex coast. The scheme could include 1,500 affordable homes, in an area of very high affordability pressure.

- Imerys China Clay Community, Cornwall: Development of around 5,000 homes on former china clay workings, industrial land and disused mining pits no longer needed by owner Imerys. Close to St Austell. The scheme could include 1,500 affordable homes, in an area of extreme affordability pressure.

- Rossington, South Yorkshire: Up to 15,000 homes regenerating the former colliery village of Rossington, three miles south of Doncaster. The scheme could include 1,500 affordable homes, in an area of moderate affordability pressure.

- Coltishall, Norfolk: 5,000 homes on a former RAF airfield, eight miles north of Norwich. The scheme could include 2,000 affordable homes in an area of very high affordability pressure.

- Hanley Grange, Cambridgeshire: 8,000 homes on land adjacent to the A11 designed to improve the severe lack of housing in and around Cambridge. The scheme could include 3,000 affordable homes in an area of extreme affordability pressure.

- Marston Vale and New Marston, Bedfordshire: Up to 15,400 homes on a series of sites, including former industrial sites, along the east-west rail line to Stewartby and Millbrook. The scheme could include 2,000 affordable homes in an area of high affordability pressure.

- Elsenham, Essex: A minimum of 5,000 homes north east of the existing Elsenham village. Close to M11 and the London to Cambridge rail line. The scheme could include 1,800 affordable homes in an area of extreme affordability pressure.

- Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire: An eco-town proposal was submitted for Kingston-on-Soar, to the south of Nottingham. In response to representations from Rushcliffe Borough Council, this site is not to be pursued. However, the Government is proposing to carry out a further review in partnership with RBC to consider whether there is a suitable alternative location with the potential to be viable within the Rushcliffe local authority area.

- Leeds City Region, Yorkshire: A number of eco-town proposals were submitted for locations within the area of Leeds City Region partnership of 11 authorities and principally between Leeds and Selby. The Leeds City Region Partnership has indicated support in principle for an eco-town within the sub-region. The Partnership has proposed a further study to compare the best alternative locations across the Leeds City Region partnership area. The Government has agreed to support this approach, on the basis that it will allow a further announcement to be made shortly of one or more sites for consultation

All the sites are expected to be deeply controversial - and Weber is on standby to help!

At midnight last night the rule to ensure that houses over a certain threshold (4 bedrooms) in England and Wales had a Home Information Pack (HIP) was extended to one and two bedroom properties being put up for sale.

One great benefit that a HIPs pack include for the first time will be an A-G green rating (seen above) for  properties which will help cut fuel bills and carbon emissions through Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs).

Shooting from the hip (sorry) the critics are panning the spread of the packs reach as they say they are a waste of money (about £300 - £350) and hold up sales but the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) claim that it will ‘knock speculative sellers from the market’ which in light of the current housing trend can only be a good thing.
 

Rarely does one have to opportunity to carry out a project on the Isle of Man, but here at Weber Shandwick we have had the chance to through an all Ireland client of ours - CEMEX. CEMEX are the third biggest building solutions company in the world and are deeply aware of the environmental impact of what they do and how they do it, and most importantly how they address it.

This month they have launched on the Isle of Man the CEMEX Scoillyn Glassey Award Scheme 2008 (which is Manx for Green School Award Scheme) in association with the Department of Education - the largest government department on the island. For more details log onto the DoE latest news section.

We have had the pleasure of initiating and running the award scheme on behalf of CEMEX on the Isle of Man and are now at the start of a 6 month project involving not just a handful but ALL the schools - primary, secondary and Manx speaking on the island. Over 40 schools and hundreds of students have been challanged to come up with innovative ideas to demonstrate their understanding of environmental sustainability and how their projects will contribute to the development of their local environment.

Commenting on the Award Scheme, Education Minister Anne Craine MHK said:

‘I am delighted that, in the Scoillyn Glassey Award, CEMEX  have come forward with such a worthwhile competition, which will encourage our students to participate in improving their own environment and in turn to make a valid contribution to the care of our Island and the world in which we live. I feel sure that schools will welcome this competition, which will give them a terrific opportunity to use the knowledge that they already have and explore new ideas.’ - What an endorsement!

CEMEX are taking a step in the right direction with this  project by providing thought leadership and most importantly facilitating action to address biodiversity, energy issues and healthy living. We will keep you up to date over the coming months with progress and anticipated success of the projects. In the meantime check out Planet 2050.

Conservative Member of Parliament for Sevenoaks, Michael Fallon MP,  has proposed a bill in the House of Commons  to give councils the right to implement the so called ‘Merton rule’ which will enshrine in law the rights of councils to insist that developments meet a certain amount of their energy needs from onsite renewable sources.

According to Building magazine the policies have been proposed by about 100 councils but as yet does not have the backing of the Government.