The £9.6 billion regeneration project in the Thames Gateway will not be weakened by the economic crisis, Margaret Beckett said. Building targets for the area include 160,000 new homes by 2016. However, recent news shows that house building has virtually ground to a halt. Never-the-less Ms Beckett announced plans for a new ‘eco-quarter’ within the
A panel has been set up to ensure that new homes meet the needs of an increasingly ageing population. The housing our ageing population panel for innovation comprises of architects and specialists who will research good practice across Europe that will create housing for older people and improve the availability and choice of sustainable homes
A study by the North West regional design panel has found that quality design can help weather the economic storm, and could even add up to 20 per cent in rents and capital value. The research urges planners and developers to pay greater attention to ‘cost-neutral’ aspects of good design, looking at the ‘whole life’
A new report has suggested that the European Commission could be asked to help deliver eco-towns in England. The report recognises that eco-towns in Europe have benefited from strong local authorities, who are ‘deeply committed to the sustainable development agenda’ over a long period, and the current credit crunch will add to delivery and implementation
The Prince of Wales is expected to tell Britain’s leading architects that communities should be integral to their work, and the needs of locals should be put forward, as he speaks at this year’s Royal Institute of British Architects lecture tonight. He will suggest three principles that should be followed to achieve the goal –
In other research, a government think-tank has found that moves towards sustainable energy in the UK are being hampered by old ways of thinking. Foresight looked at how the country’s buildings and spaces will need to evolve to help cut carbon emissions and argues that the UK is ‘locked in’ to using certain forms of