PIONEERING Scots industrialist Robert Owen's New Lanark "model village" was built on an ethos of improving the living conditions of its workers. But his vision was never fully realised. Until now.
By Helen McArdle
PIONEERING Scots industrialist Robert Owen's New Lanark "model village" was built on an ethos of improving the living conditions of its workers. But his vision was never fully realised. Until now.
As reported in last night's Evening Times, plans for the UK's first eco-town - run and owned by its residents - have been unveiled in New Lanark.
Inspired by Owen's 1817 drawings of his ideal community, Owenstown would be built five miles from New Lanark, in the Rigside area of South Lanarkshire.
A 2000-acre greenfield site has already been bought by the Hometown Foundation, a Scottish charitable trust established to help build self-sustaining communities.
The Foundation has drawn-up proposals for a custom-built town capable of supporting a population of around 20,000. It has set up a website to assess the level of interest from would-be residents and estimates that around 250 "pioneer families" would be enough to get the project off the ground.
Once established, however, control of the project would be handed over to a board of trustees, elected from among the residents. Stuart Crawford, one of the trustees of the Hometown Foundation, said the idea was to create a community run "for the people, by the people".
Among the main features of the planned "model village" is a town farm supplying fresh vegetables, battery-powered buses and prefabricated houses with solar panel roofs.
Dr Jim Arnold, director of New Lanark and chairman of the Owenstown trustees, said: "This will be a new and inspired modern version of Robert Owen's dream - a realisation of his ideals."
An exhibition of the plans will go on display at New Lanark Mill Hotel from Tuesday to Thursday next week before the foundation formally applies for planning permission.
If it gets the go-ahead, it hopes to begin construction next year.
- See hometown.co.uk
