Challenges facing UK towns and cities

What is Egan's Wheel?

What is Egan's Wheel?

• Describes eight features of a sustainable community

• A community is judged on its sustainability based on how well they meet these criteria

• Fair, inclusive/safe, environmentally sensitive, thriving (economy), well designed, well connected, well served, well lead/run

Sustainable community

A community that manages its resources so that the needs of current residents are met while ensuring that there will be resources to meet the needs of future residents.

Sustainable qualities of BedZED eco-homes

• Significantly (45%) lower energy usage, under 50% of average local water usage

• Residents have good access to cycling routes and public transport (well-connected) which is better for the environment than driving cars. Significantly lower proportion of people travel by/own a car than Hackbridge & Sutton averages

• Very little energy used to heat homes due to 300mm wall insulation (6x thicker than normal)

• They use collect and treat sewage water to recycle it

• Built on a brownfield site

Unsustainable qualities of BedZED homes

• Houses are too insulated leading to 90% of residents feeling uncomfortably hot in summer

• Sewage water treatment plant is very expensive to operate and uses more energy than conventional sewage management

• Nearest supermarket is 3 miles away and local shops have a poor range of goods so they are not particularly well served

• Had to apply to live there as the developers need to make sure that you are environmentally sensitive enough (not inclusive)

BedZED

• Beddington Zero Energy Development

• A group of houses built on a brownfield site in the London borough of Sutton

• Environmentally-friendly housing development designed to create zero carbon emissions

What might attract people to live in Himley View?

• Lots of (green) space, lower population density (less crowded) than a more urban area/city

• Close to thriving town of Dudley and a large shopping centre with many shops, restaurants and leisure venues

• Choice of primary and secondary schools within walking distance

• Well connected via motorways such as the A461 and M5; Birmingham International Airport under 30 miles away

• Government incentive (discount or loans) for first-time property buyers

• High quality homes

NIMBYism rationale - why would local residents be opposed to the proposed development?

• Increased traffic: more housing leads to increased traffic (more cars on the road) and possibly competition for parking spots; congestion may result from the development of the site as roads are blocked by industrial trucks or closed for development

• Pollution: Developments create a lot of noise (eg drilling) and light pollution (eg operating at night).

• Loss of a community: a community may feel like its unique character or small-town feel is lost with an influx new people into the area, as they are viewed as impostors

• Concerns about unattractive developments: visual blight and failure to blend in with surrounding architecture, loss of local property value as homes near an undesirable development may be less desirable

Impacts of the development on shops and services

• Services like schools or public transport may be put under pressure as there are more people to support/serve

• Additional housing puts pressure on the existing real estate market

• More people in the area spend more money on local shops, cafes etc, helping them to flourish economically

What might happen if more development is approved in the area around Himley View?

The open land between Dudley and Kingswinford could be lost, contributing to ‘urban sprawl’

Urban sprawl

• The outward growth of towns and cities spreading and taking over areas of the countryside

• Planners have tried to combat this and prevent the loss of countryside by creating ‘green belts’ around many UK cities. Building of new homes is restricted in the green belt.

Negative impacts of urban sprawl

• Smaller towns and villages lose their distinctive character and community as they merge into one

• Loss of habitats and green space

• Increased light and noise pollution and possibly more congestion on the motorways.

Advantages of building on brownfield sites

• Helps revive old and disused urban areas

• Infrastructure such as water, electricity and sewage are often already in place which is cheaper than building them from scratch

• Reduces the loss of green space and habitats

• Well connected with transport links and often located near to main areas of employment

Disadvantages of building on brownfield sites

• The land may be contaminated/hazardous or have a lot of unwanted infrastructure. It could be expensive to make safe and suitable to start developing.

• It causes more disruption and congestion. As it is in an urban area, there is a greater movement of people around the site who will be affected by its development

• They are often surrounded by other rundown areas and therefore do not appeal to some potential property buyers

Advantages of greenfield sites

• There is no need to clear old buildings which may be cheaper than clearing a brownfield site

• It is an attractive location with a lot of space and nice views which appeal to potential property buyers

Disadvantages of building on greenfield sites

• It destroys natural habitats resulting in harm to wildlife, creating a large environmental concern

• All infrastructure needs to be built from scratch which can be expensive

• Encourages urban sprawl and can result in a loss of green space between major cities such as Dudley and Kingswinford