Yvette Cooper unveils eco-quarter plans for Thames Gateway
- Published: 28 November 2007 15:19
- Author: Richard Vaughan
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- Last Updated: 28 November 2007 15:28
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Housing minister Yvette Cooper has set out her vision for the Thames Gateway over the next three years, calling for it to become the country's first 'eco-region'.
"'It needs to be pioneering in cutting carbon emissions, while linking existing developments to create an eco quarter, with zero carbon shops, pubs and clubs.'"
Yvette Cooper
Speaking at the Thames Gateway Forum today (28 November) Cooper said that as well as the government looking to build new eco-towns, there was a need for existing towns to become zero carbon, creating eco-regions.
'We have set a target for all homes to be zero carbon by 2016, but it is not just about new homes,' she said. 'We need to look at the whole built environment, and Thames Gateway needs to become an eco-region.
'It needs to be pioneering in cutting carbon emissions, while linking existing developments to create an eco quarter, with zero carbon shops, pubs and clubs.'
Meanwhile, Cooper announced that Terry Farrell would become the Communities and Local Government's design champion for the Thames Gateway.
Farrell will oversee proposals such as the CLG's Parklands Plan, which will be announced tomorrow when the CLG's delivery plan is published.
