ITEM CA7 - APPENDIX E

Eco-towns: Living a Greener Future

Joint report by Cherwell District Council and Oxfordshire County Council.

ASSESSMENT OF WESTON OTMOOR AGAINST ECO-TOWN CRITERIA

1 Zero Carbon

The Requirement

DCLG requires that eco-towns should have a critical mass to develop new or existing technologies to achieve zero carbon across the whole development. Successful proposals would deliver this aim through innovative design, the use of materials to reduce energy usage, the use of low carbon energy sources.

The Proposal

The submission does not currently detail which low carbon technologies would feature within the proposed settlement and how zero carbon status would be achieved.

2 Future Climate Change

The Requirement

Proposals should demonstrate that they are sustainable and resilient to future climate change. Proposals should take into account predicted climatic changes which should be reflected in building design and construction. Proposals should also take into account wider water management issues.

The Proposal

No detail is currently provided in relation to the consideration of climate change.

3 Managing Water

The Requirement

Eco-Towns should aspire to ‘water neutrality’ (where post development water use is equal to or less than usage pre-development). This is particularly important within ‘high stress’ water supply areas. For example, proposals should provide details of sustainable drainage solutions, rainwater harvesting, the creation of wetlands and the use of permeable surfaces.

No development should take place within high risk areas (PPS25 Flood Zone 3); Flood Zone 2 should normally be used for open spaces and informal recreation. All other built areas, including housing should take place within Flood Zone 1.

All proposals should prepare a ‘Water Cycle Study’; this provides a comprehensive assessment of water usage, flood risk and drainage.

The Proposal

There is no detail currently available from Parkridge on how this issue would be addressed. The Weston Otmoor site is located within an area of serious ‘water stress’; therefore, the proposal should make clear how this requirement should be achieved.

There is no information currently available in relation to water use, drainage and flood risk and a water Cycle Study is yet to be prepared.

There is a degree of flood risk affecting the site, but the extent of this risk has yet to be determined.

4 Air Quality

The Requirement

Eco-Towns should meet established EU standards in relation to air quality.

The Proposal

No information on this aspect is currently available.

5 Green Space and Biodiversity

The Requirement

Eco-Towns should provide high quality green spaces and infrastructure that maximises benefits for the community and the natural environment. Such measures would include the creation and restoration of new habitats, the creation of new green spaces, community forests, parks and play spaces. It is expected that a minimum of 20% of any Eco-Town (excluding gardens) should be dedicated to open space and that developers should fund the long term maintenance of such spaces.

The Proposal

The submission indicates that approximately 311ha of the site (37%) would be used for open space, allotments/smallholdings and green infrastructure.

6 More Sustainable Travel

The Requirement

Eco-Towns should embody the principles of sustainable transport and achieve exemplar standards; settlements should develop an ethos of ‘green’ travel and significantly reduce car reliance.

Proposals should achieve agreed levels of modal shift from cars to public transport; major community facilities should also be located within 10 minutes walk from all homes and walking and cycling should be encouraged. Frequent, high quality and reliable public transport should be provided to link residents to key destinations and endowments should be put in place to secure high quality public transport in future years.

The Proposal

The Weston Otmoor proposal has developed a ‘linear’ settlement model that places all homes within easy reach of public transport and a network of walking and cycling routes. An important component of the proposal’s transport vision involves the creation of new rail and tramway links to Oxford and other nearby towns. The proposal intends to fully fund the construction of an upgraded rail link from Oxford to Milton Keynes (currently part of the emerging East-West Rail proposals). The site promoter has stated that all future residents will be provided with free public transport to Oxford as part of the package of sustainable travel options.

The detail of the overall public transport package has yet to be established; while the Weston Otmoor site has been positioned to take advantage of emerging proposals for the East-West Rail route, there remains much work to be done to identify the potential to upgrade linkages to Oxford, particularly in relation to the capacity of this part of the network to accommodate increased numbers or rail and tram journeys.

A key element of the Weston Otmoor proposal is the planned reconfiguration of the A34/M40 junction, together with the creation of a major park and ride facility. While the proposal is seeking a significant modal shift toward public transport; its location adjacent to a major strategic road junction could create pressures for continued high levels of car usage and long distance commuting. The promoter has stated that in addition of public transport improvements, extensive traffic management measures will be put in place to encourage modal shift; however, no technical detail has yet been provided to support this strategy.

7 Homes and Housing

The Requirement

Eco-Towns should offer quality housing and improve their delivery; proposals should also include between 30-50% affordable housing and eventually meet Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.

The Proposal

The submission refers to the provision of a mix of housing types and tenures to develop a varied community and recognises the requirement to provide affordable homes (30-33% within this proposal). The requirement to reach appropriate Eco-Home standards is also acknowledged.

8 Community Building and Empowerment

The Requirement

Developments should be fully inclusive of all sectors of the community; this is expected to deliver high quality open space, access to comprehensive community facilities, employment, both within the site and linkages to other economic centres and education. Future residents will be expected to be fully involved in the development of the community and endowments and trusts should be established to enable these community principles to be delivered.

The Proposal

The submission considers the issue of community development and states that the proposal will deliver a culture of ‘belonging and ownership’. The promoter provides a brief statement that highlights the need to develop a sustainable community with a particular emphasis on the role of young people in developing a successful settlement.

9 Jobs

The Requirement

Eco-Towns should harness the economic potential of its area to provide high quality employment and lifelong learning. Any proposal must provide a clear strategy to maximise employment opportunities, provide high quality accommodation, establish links to adjacent markets, address labour market constraints and develop the environmental technology sector.

The Proposal

Weston Otmoor intends to provide 90 ha of employment, retail and commercial land; this would provide the potential to create 12,000 new jobs. The submission does not currently elaborate upon the type of jobs that would be created or establish the linkages to adjacent employment areas such as Bicester and Oxford.

10 Innovation and Public Services

The Requirement

Eco-Towns should pilot and test new methods of public service delivery in addition to the consideration of overall sustainability and being responsive to the issue of climate change.

The Proposal

No detail is currently provided on these aspects.

11 Zero Carbon Schools

The Requirement

Eco-Towns should deliver ‘zero carbon’ schools that provide first class facilities. Schools should be environmentally and socially sustainable offering a wide range of support facilities to families.

The Proposal

Weston Otmoor would provide two secondary schools and eight primary schools to serve any new community. The proposal has developed a concept to develop ‘small scale’ primary schools that would serve particular neighbourhoods in order to encourage a greater sense of community. No further detail is provide at this time in relation to other aspects.

12 Health Services

The Requirement

Eco-Towns should provide healthy and sustainable environments that encourage healthy living. All residents should have access to high quality health and social care facilities.

The Proposal

The submission makes provision for community facilities and buildings within its bid, but the detail of these elements are not yet specified. The proposal promotes increased use of walking and cycling as part of its overall transport package which is recognised as a means of encouraging healthier lifestyles among future residents.