England's 'Forest City': A Million Homes in Nature's Embrace

An innovative proposal for a "forest city" in England could see construction begin before the end of the decade, aiming to house one million people. Spearheaded by a cross-party coalition, the project envisions building eco-friendly homes from modular wooden designs within a vast new nature reserve, creating a significant net gain for biodiversity. This initiative seeks to address the housing crisis by offering affordable homes, with four-bedroom properties potentially available for £350,000.

The proposed city, east of Cambridge, would feature new rail links, schools, and hospitals, operating under a community land trust to ensure affordability. Emphasis is placed on creating pedestrianized, human-scale environments with robust public transport, including trams, and integrating 12,000 acres of native forest. The plan also includes building crucial water infrastructure to combat regional water scarcity and redeveloping industrial agricultural land.

Supporters believe this project offers a unique solution for sustainable development, balancing human needs with ecological restoration. While challenges like water scarcity and farmer land sales exist, proponents are confident that the proposed value uplift and infrastructure investments will address these issues. The project aims to serve as a model for future developments, demonstrating how cities can be built to enrich nature rather than degrade it.