Domestic futures and sustainable residential development

Domestic 'futures' have been a long time coming. This paper questions the e xtent to which futuristic *vision' linked to the rhetoric and sentiment of 'sustainable development' and the 'livable city' inform town and regional p lanning in England and Canada. Despite official commitment to 'environmenta l' objectives and media interest in 'ecotech' residential development, mark ets institutions and behaviour lag behind what is technically possible. Pla nning guidance encourages homes with less environmental impact. But this me ssage has not reached most residential consumers. Is lack of mass markets i n low impact housing a flaw in Government regulation, evidence of the cynic al nature of official rhetoric, or proof of gradual product development as society redefines what is expected of living spaces? Or is it unwise to exp ect too much change in attitudes to property, or for innovation to come soo n? (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.