Richard Rogers has launched an extraordinarycriticism of the government’s eco-towns project calling it one of thegovernment’s “biggest mistakes”.Speaking today at aconference on high density housing at London’s building Centre, thePritzker-prize winning architect and Labour peer claimed eco-towns wereinherently unsustainable, and cited a report by the US Green Councilthat showed that draughty accommodation in a dense urban centre is moreefficient than that of an eco-home in a greenfield location.“Ithink eco-towns are one of the biggest mistakes the government canmake," he said. "They are in no way environmentally sustainable.“Theretention of the green belt is essential. We need to increase densityaround public transport. We need to invest much more in publictransport.”Rogers’comments reflect the extent that prime minister Gordon Brown – whopersonally backs eco-towns - has departed from the principles espousedby Rogers’ Urban Task Force, an advisory body formed under hispredecessor Tony Blair.Last month BD revealed that Rogers hadcriticised the government for ignoring the Urban Task force’s Towards aStrong Urban Renaissance report produced over two years ago.Otherspeakers at the event, chaired by HTA’s managing director BenDerbyshire, included Pablo Lazo of Arup and Duncan Bowie, a former GLAplanner.
www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3114244&origin=BDweeklydigest