from The Observer

British to help China build ‘eco-cities’

Frank Kane
Sunday November 6, 2005
The Observer

British engineers will this week sign a multi-billion contract with the Chinese authorities to design and build a string of ‘eco-cities’ – self-sustaining urban centres the size of a large western capital – in the booming country.

Arup, the London-based consulting firm that has already signed up for one such project near Shanghai, will announce it has clinched a deal to extend the concept into a string of cities around China.

The eco-cities are regarded both as a prototype for urban living in over-populated and polluted environments and as a magnet for investment funds into the rapidly growing Chinese economy.

…
Peter Head, the Arup director in charge of the first eco-city, at Dongtan near Shanghai, said: ‘We are going to help establish a model of how a sustainable city works, but it must also be a viable financial proposition in the long term to attract international investment.’

The Dongtan development, on an island in the mouth of the Yangtze river near Shanghai, aims to build a city three-quarters the size of Manhattan by 2040. The first phase will accommodate some 50,000 people. It is on target to be open by the time of the Shanghai Expo trade fair in 2010.

Up to four more eco-cities will be built, though exact locations have not yet been revealed. Experts believe that the real challenge will be to build them in China’s interior, in regions that have been polluted by heavy industry and depopulated by the movement of millions of Chinese people to the booming Pacific coast.

Head said: ‘It is part of a new awareness of the environment by the Chinese government. They realise that with their growing population and economy they have to overcome the problems of environmental pollution and resource depletion.’

The eco-cities are intended to be self-sufficient in energy, water and most food products, with the aim of zero emissions of greenhouse gases in transport systems.

Head said: ‘It is no gimmick. It is being led at the highest levels of the Chinese government. They are very committed to developing a new paradigm of economic development.’

further info from Arup’s press release:

Dongtan is situated in an extremely strategic position very close to Shanghai and on the third largest island in China, situated at the mouth of the Yangtze river. Dongtan is three quarters the size of Manhattan and will be developed as a sustainable city to attract a whole range of commercial and leisure investments. It will be a city where people will be able to live and work in a high quality environment. The intention is to evolve Arup’s sustainable urban design and planning into a blueprint for the future planning of Chinese cities.

Dongtan is currently a large area of mostly agricultural land which has been earmarked by the Mayor of Shanghai and the Chinese Premier as the site of China’s first sustainable eco city. A high quality road infrastructure is currently being built that connects Dongtan to the Shanghai mainland.

Peter Head, Director, Arup said: ”Arup is delighted to be working with SIIC on such an ambitious development that could well prove to be the template for sustainability in city planning – not only in China, but elsewhere in the world. Our appointment sends out a clear message that the Chinese Government is willing to find ways of overcoming the challenges of creating sustainable cities in the face of significant climate change, environmental pollution, water shortages and the need for the use of cleaner energy.”

Mr. Ma, Director, SIIC said: ”We are delighted to be partnering with Arup to help deliver our vision of creating China’s first sustainable and ecologically-friendly city.”

Gary Lawrence of Arup’s Seattle office, the firm’s Urban Strategy Leader and a senior adviser on the Dongtan project, said: ”There is a growing recognition in China that long term economic and social vitality depends upon more efficient, effective use of nature’s resources, coupled with improved human and environmental health. In light of that recognition, SIIC has chosen to be among those leading China toward a more sustainable future. We are honored that they have asked Arup to help them achieve their vision for a better way to achieve their urban future.”

The first phase of Dongtan is planned to be completed by 2010 when the Expo will be held in Shanghai. This phase will include a wide range of developments with urban parks, ecological parks and world class leisure facilities. Priority projects include the process of capturing and purifying water in the landscape to support life in the city. Community waste management recycling will generate clean energy from organic waste, reducing landfills that damage the environment. Combined heat and power systems will provide the technology to source clean and reliable energy. Dongtan will be a model ecological city, and its buildings will help to reduce energy use, making efficient use of energy sources and generating energy from renewable sources.

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