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Prize-winning designer says double size of 40 English towns Prize-winning designer says double size of 40 English towns
(about 1 hour later)
Britain's housing crisis could be largely solved by doubling the size of 40 towns and cities including Oxford, Norwich, Reading and Stratford-on-Avon using garden city extensions, according to the winner of a £250,000 economics prize awarded on Wednesday night.Britain's housing crisis could be largely solved by doubling the size of 40 towns and cities including Oxford, Norwich, Reading and Stratford-on-Avon using garden city extensions, according to the winner of a £250,000 economics prize awarded on Wednesday night.
Circle-shaped developments set among parks and allotments and connected by trams to existing centres could provide homes for 150,000 people per town, according to David Rudlin, an urban designer who has won the Wolfson prize, the world's second-biggest economics prize after the Nobel.Circle-shaped developments set among parks and allotments and connected by trams to existing centres could provide homes for 150,000 people per town, according to David Rudlin, an urban designer who has won the Wolfson prize, the world's second-biggest economics prize after the Nobel.
Rudlin's winning submission argues Britain should adopt models pioneered in Scandinavia, the Netherlands and Germany to "take a confident bite out of the greenbelt" and build extensions connected to existing city centres over 30 years or more.Rudlin's winning submission argues Britain should adopt models pioneered in Scandinavia, the Netherlands and Germany to "take a confident bite out of the greenbelt" and build extensions connected to existing city centres over 30 years or more.
One in five homes would be classed as affordable housing and some sites would be handed over to self-builders.One in five homes would be classed as affordable housing and some sites would be handed over to self-builders.
The Campaign to Protect Rural England attacked the idea as "the same old idea of urban sprawl".The Campaign to Protect Rural England attacked the idea as "the same old idea of urban sprawl".
"Popularity was supposed to be one of the criteria of this prize but I don't see how building on the green belt will be popular," said Matt Thomson, head of planning at the CPRE. "People in urban and rural areas want to protect the greenbelt.""Popularity was supposed to be one of the criteria of this prize but I don't see how building on the green belt will be popular," said Matt Thomson, head of planning at the CPRE. "People in urban and rural areas want to protect the greenbelt."
Rudlin's proposal includes a "deal" with people who are opposed to development in existing suburbs to remove that threat in exchange for their approval for a few large garden city extensions.Rudlin's proposal includes a "deal" with people who are opposed to development in existing suburbs to remove that threat in exchange for their approval for a few large garden city extensions.
He believes that up to 100,000 homes a year will need to be built on greenfield sites to meet the need for six million new homes in the next 30 years and that garden cities allow development "in a way that reduces its impact, maximises its potential for sustainability and reinforces an existing place".He believes that up to 100,000 homes a year will need to be built on greenfield sites to meet the need for six million new homes in the next 30 years and that garden cities allow development "in a way that reduces its impact, maximises its potential for sustainability and reinforces an existing place".
"Expansion would take the form of town extensions connected to the city centre by a tram or bus rapid transit, with each extension consisting of green, walkable neighbourhoods with primary schools, business uses, and local shops," he said."Expansion would take the form of town extensions connected to the city centre by a tram or bus rapid transit, with each extension consisting of green, walkable neighbourhoods with primary schools, business uses, and local shops," he said.
Taunton, Exeter, Harrogate, Preston, Carlisle and Guildford are among the other towns earmarked.Taunton, Exeter, Harrogate, Preston, Carlisle and Guildford are among the other towns earmarked.
The ideas competition attracted 279 entries and the results are set to fuel cross-party interest in reviving the garden city concept, first pioneered by Ebenezer Howard in 1898. In April, Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, called on local authorities to bid for funding of up to £2.4bn for three garden city developments, while Emma Reynolds, shadow housing minister, has promised garden cities and new towns to almost double housebuilding rates to 200,000 homes a year if Labour wins the 2015 general election.The ideas competition attracted 279 entries and the results are set to fuel cross-party interest in reviving the garden city concept, first pioneered by Ebenezer Howard in 1898. In April, Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, called on local authorities to bid for funding of up to £2.4bn for three garden city developments, while Emma Reynolds, shadow housing minister, has promised garden cities and new towns to almost double housebuilding rates to 200,000 homes a year if Labour wins the 2015 general election.
George Osborne, the chancellor, used the 2014 budget to announce that a 15,000-home development at Ebbsfleet in Kent would be the first new garden city in a century.George Osborne, the chancellor, used the 2014 budget to announce that a 15,000-home development at Ebbsfleet in Kent would be the first new garden city in a century.
Campaigners for garden cities, such as the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA), say a 30-year government commitment is needed to allow garden cities to work. Unlike conventional developments where the landowner profits from a huge increase in the value of sites when they are zoned for housing, the garden city model requires that increased value be ploughed back into infrastructure and community resources.Campaigners for garden cities, such as the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA), say a 30-year government commitment is needed to allow garden cities to work. Unlike conventional developments where the landowner profits from a huge increase in the value of sites when they are zoned for housing, the garden city model requires that increased value be ploughed back into infrastructure and community resources.
Last month, when the government launched a consultation for a garden city development at Ebbsfleet, the TCPA accused it of failing to set out any of the garden city principles in its terms of reference.Last month, when the government launched a consultation for a garden city development at Ebbsfleet, the TCPA accused it of failing to set out any of the garden city principles in its terms of reference.
"We can't just be badging large-scale developments as garden cities unless they embrace the principles," said Kate Henderson, chief executive of the TCPA."We can't just be badging large-scale developments as garden cities unless they embrace the principles," said Kate Henderson, chief executive of the TCPA.
Lord Wolfson, the chief executive of Next, who funded the prize believes the garden city concept could reduce "nimbyism" which has been a factor in the steady collapse in the number of houses being built and the failure of many local authorities to produce adequate local plans. Over the past decade, successive governments have missed housing targets by 954,000 homes leaving a huge shortfall.Lord Wolfson, the chief executive of Next, who funded the prize believes the garden city concept could reduce "nimbyism" which has been a factor in the steady collapse in the number of houses being built and the failure of many local authorities to produce adequate local plans. Over the past decade, successive governments have missed housing targets by 954,000 homes leaving a huge shortfall.
"Garden cities are far more popular than people think," Wolfson said. "74% of people like the idea of garden cities. Only 13% of people in this country are against the building of garden cities. But we live in a funny country and people will protest very, very loudly but very quietly agree. That 13% is extremely vocal but they are a minority. If politicians can attack this issue with integrity they will find the majority of people are on their side.""Garden cities are far more popular than people think," Wolfson said. "74% of people like the idea of garden cities. Only 13% of people in this country are against the building of garden cities. But we live in a funny country and people will protest very, very loudly but very quietly agree. That 13% is extremely vocal but they are a minority. If politicians can attack this issue with integrity they will find the majority of people are on their side."
The runner-up, with a prize of £50,000 was housing charity Shelter, working with PRP Architects, which proposed a 15,000-home town called Stoke Harbour on the Hoo peninsula between the Thames and Medway estuaries in north Kent. Almost 40% of homes in the scheme were to be designated affordable, through schemes such as shared ownership. The runner-up, with a prize of £50,000 was housing charity Shelter, working with PRP Architects, which proposed a 15,000-home town called Stoke Harbour on the Hoo peninsula between the Thames and Medway estuaries in north Kent. Almost 40% of homes in the scheme were to be designated affordable, through schemes such as shared ownership. Housing minister Brandon Lewis said: "We are committed to working with communities across the country who have ideas for a new generation of garden cities and we are inviting areas with locally-supported plans to come forward."