Gordon Brown makes speech at the Thames Gateway Forum

Gordon Brown makes speech at the Thames Gateway Forum; Brown speech SOT- I believe that we will lead the world in setting higher standards with zero carbon homes. Every new home from 2016, a zero carbon home. And ten new eco towns, new towns that are environmentally sustainable to set the pace for the future. Yesterday Yvette announced we are designating the Thames Gateway as Britain's first Eco Region. And that means setting the highest of environmental standards, not only for construction and for low or zero carbon housing, but also for water conservation, the parks, the green spaces, that should be so much at the centre of all development. A study published by the Environment Agency has said, if we take the right action it's technically possible to build 160,000 new homes in the Gateway whilst creating no overall growth in the demand for water. And we will establish a new Institute for Sustainability which will lead the way in applying new green standards to construction and urban design. And we're working in partnership with other governments around the world to put Britain at the leading edge of understanding the best ways to design, build, and live and work, in sustainable communities.So right across the Thames Gateway, the most exciting things that are about to happen, investing in homes, schools and hospitals, roads, rails, streets and parks. Making it a thriving community while ensuring that we protect the environment for the future. And none of this would be possible unless we were together prepared to make these long term commitments, to fund new investment, over nine billion. New transport infrastructure, reforming welfare with job opportunities. Improving our planning system. Changes in our environmental standards. The Thames Gateway is about housing, but it's about more than a housing project. It is about transport, but it's about more than a transport project. It is about there being hospitals and schools to be proud of, but it's more than ab...