MacCormac leads eco-suburb plan

22 February 2008

Richard MacCormac, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, Hawkins Brown and Baca are to create the UK’s first “eco-suburb”, in a challenge to the government’s eco-towns policy.

The London Borough of Sutton, already home to Bill Dunster’s BedZed scheme, is drawing up a strategy to transform the district of Hackbridge into an expanded low-carbon suburb with code 5 level housing as part of a plan to become a “sustainable borough” by 2025.

Philip James, executive head of planning, transport and highways, said the council hoped the scheme would prove more acceptable to local communities, given the huge controversy over eco-towns.

“We believe we’re offering up a better model that’s adaptable to more of the government’s requirements for future housing than building standalone eco-towns,” he said.

“We’re taking a bottom upwards approach and working locally because we can see that we can meet local needs. The idea of free-standing eco-towns not firmly embedded in the aspirations of the local community is getting a mixed reaction.”

The Hackbridge eco-suburb plan, which is likely to be less radical-looking than BedZed, will include mixed-use and residential new-builds, as well as retrofitted existing buildings.

The council hopes to secure a mixture of public and private sector funding for the as yet uncosted scheme, which will see an increase in the 2,500-home suburb’s density. It has drawn up a design guide for the architects.

Richard MacCormac, who is acting as an adviser and is due to lead a design workshop with residents next week, said Hackbridge was his first opportunity for his ideas on high-density suburban living to be tested on the public, and could ultimately inform proposals for the Thames Gateway and other suburban developments.

He said: “Can you have housing schemes that have high densities which improve the viability of public transport but don’t upset people — because they do get upset if they allow very large buildings. This is our first opportunity to start talking to people in a real situation.”