Transcript Slide 1
Adapting Adaptation: A Critical Governance Analysis of the English Eco-town Initiative The Governance of Adaptation Daniel Tomozeiu & Simon Joss Contents 1. Eco-Cities as Adaptation Strategy 2. UK Scene: Policy Actors and Background 3. English Eco-Towns 4. Governance Tensions and Implication for Sustainability 5. Questions & Answers Eco-Cities as Adaptation Strategy Total launched by each date 180 160 Worldwide 140 Europe Asia/Australasia 120 Americas 100 Africa/ME 80 60 40 20 0 1985 1990 Joss et al- Forthcoming 1995 2000 2005 2010 UK Scene: Policy Actors 1980s early 2000s planning mainly increasing local authorities concerns about and developers affordable housing and climate change 2001 2001 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) created Local Government and Regions part of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (later DCLG) UK Scene: Policy Background 2003 2004 Sustainable Communities: Building for the Future publishedOffice of the Deputy Prime Minister Barker Review of Housing Supply publishedindependent report Both documents highlight the need for urban development; focus on urbanisation English Eco-Towns 2007 2007-2009 Best Practice in Urban Extensions and New Settlements study looking at practical sustainability examples Two consultation processes: -on best locations -on building standards 2008 Policy to be implemented by DCLG Department for Climate Change (DECC) created Consultation and Selection Process 2009 • 10 sites selected out of 57 applications • New Eco-town Planning Policy Statement (PPS) designed • 4 locations chosen for the first Eco-towns • £60 million allocated (later cut to £30 million) The policy to be implemented by DCLG with DEFRA input Localism Act 2011 Localism Act increases the powers of local government in the UK (general competence) Several services are now the responsibility of the local government Eco-towns to be developed by local administration and developers The Eco-town PPS not compulsory anymore North West Bicester Whitehill-Bordon State of Play Rackheath St. Austell Governance Tensions 1 Horizontal tensions- between government departments Sustainable growth seen as socio-economic policy, “tilted” governance in favour of DCLG DEFRA and DECC had only consultee status Risk: Failure to create a balanced governance structure can lead to policy fragmentation and lack of robustness Governance Tensions 2 Vertical tensions- between central and local government Best policy delivery level: - English Eco-Town brought it from local to national - Localism Act takes it back to the local actors Risk: Failure to engage across governance levels might lead to policy being abandoned Implications for Sustainability Initial focus on socio-economic dimension of sustainability Late 2000s missed opportunity to address the “tilted” governance structure Currently devolved to local authorities- diverse approaches No British brand of urban sustainability as a model for adaptation Further Information www.westminster.ac.uk/ecocities Daniel Tomozeiu Email: [email protected] Thank you!