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Housing Minister Brandon Lewis condemns award-winning garden city plan as ‘urban sprawl’ Housing Minister Brandon Lewis blasts award-winning garden city plan as ‘urban sprawl’
(about 14 hours later)
It may have won £250,000 and one of the world’s most prestigious awards, but a plan to build 3.5 million new homes by allowing 40 towns and cities to double in size has been almost immediately trashed by the Government.It may have won £250,000 and one of the world’s most prestigious awards, but a plan to build 3.5 million new homes by allowing 40 towns and cities to double in size has been almost immediately trashed by the Government.
Urban design consultancy Urbed’s vision of the future would see places such as Oxford, Reading, Ipswich, Worcester, Preston, Harrogate and York expanding dramatically into green belt land over the next three decades.Urban design consultancy Urbed’s vision of the future would see places such as Oxford, Reading, Ipswich, Worcester, Preston, Harrogate and York expanding dramatically into green belt land over the next three decades.
Awarding the Wolfson Economics Prize, judges hailed the “bold and daring solution” to the housing shortage with the creation of new garden city-style suburbs.Awarding the Wolfson Economics Prize, judges hailed the “bold and daring solution” to the housing shortage with the creation of new garden city-style suburbs.
The plan foresaw green, walkable neighbourhoods served by trams and public transport with one in five homes within the price range of people on low incomes. For every plot developed, the same area would be allocated for parks and gardens.The plan foresaw green, walkable neighbourhoods served by trams and public transport with one in five homes within the price range of people on low incomes. For every plot developed, the same area would be allocated for parks and gardens.
But the Housing minister, Brandon Lewis, has now condemned the scheme as “urban sprawl” that would build nothing other than “resentment” among local people and has said the Government would have nothing to do with it.But the Housing minister, Brandon Lewis, has now condemned the scheme as “urban sprawl” that would build nothing other than “resentment” among local people and has said the Government would have nothing to do with it.
“We do not intend to follow the failed example of top-down eco-towns from the last [Labour] administration,” Mr Lewis said yesterday.“We do not intend to follow the failed example of top-down eco-towns from the last [Labour] administration,” Mr Lewis said yesterday.
“We are committed to protecting the green belt from development as an important protection against urban sprawl. Instead, we stand ready to work with communities across the country who have ideas for a new generation of garden cities and we have offered support to areas with locally supported plans that come forward.”“We are committed to protecting the green belt from development as an important protection against urban sprawl. Instead, we stand ready to work with communities across the country who have ideas for a new generation of garden cities and we have offered support to areas with locally supported plans that come forward.”
Mr Lewis, took up his post in July, said in an interview with the Architects Journal that the Government wanted to see communities come up with their own solutions. “Picking housing numbers out of thin air and imposing them on local communities builds nothing but resentment,” he said.Mr Lewis, took up his post in July, said in an interview with the Architects Journal that the Government wanted to see communities come up with their own solutions. “Picking housing numbers out of thin air and imposing them on local communities builds nothing but resentment,” he said.
“Already we’re working with local councils and residents to develop the first garden city at Ebbsfleet, which will deliver up to 15,000 new homes, and published a prospectus offering support to communities.”“Already we’re working with local councils and residents to develop the first garden city at Ebbsfleet, which will deliver up to 15,000 new homes, and published a prospectus offering support to communities.”
David Rudlin, of Urbed, hit back, saying: “We have to build on the green belt, ignoring it is not an option. This notion that you are building over everything isn’t really true. If you draw the area you require, it surprised me how little space you need to expand cities of this scale.”David Rudlin, of Urbed, hit back, saying: “We have to build on the green belt, ignoring it is not an option. This notion that you are building over everything isn’t really true. If you draw the area you require, it surprised me how little space you need to expand cities of this scale.”
Miles Gibson, director of the Wolfson Prize, questioned whether the Government had “misinterpreted” the plan. “There is no part of his submission... that [says] this is going to be based in a locality which doesn’t want it. The judges wouldn’t have given the prize to a bid which wouldn’t get support from a local community.”Miles Gibson, director of the Wolfson Prize, questioned whether the Government had “misinterpreted” the plan. “There is no part of his submission... that [says] this is going to be based in a locality which doesn’t want it. The judges wouldn’t have given the prize to a bid which wouldn’t get support from a local community.”