Housing minister, Yvette Cooper, has launched a competition to design ten eco-towns. The competition, announced early in November, will see the development of over 20,000 new homes, with the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment all sitting on the judging panel.

There will also be an opportunity for public involvement to judge the eco-towns' designs via a citizens' panel. At the end of the competition, the best of the ideas and lessons learned will be drawn together in an exhibition and eco-towns "compendium", which will help to inform the thinking of local authorities and developers in drawing up plans for eco-towns.

Yvette Cooper said:"We need to deliver the best eco-towns for the sake of the planet and the next generation. However, we don't want each town to be the same, but to instead reflect the history, aspirations and character of each local area. This is why it is crucial that we involve local people and citizen juries are a great way of doing just that."

The aims of the competition are to gather ideas:

  • from the best national and international thinkers in the fields of town planning, urban design, architecture, landscape design, transport and environmental planning;
  • on what an eco-town could and should try to achieve, and how the design and development process can support positive outcomes;
  • on the key design features that should be considered when designing an eco-town, eg regional and local identity;
  • on the design layout of eco-towns and how they tie in with existing transport links and the natural landscape; and
  • on housing layouts and sustainability features.