[2] Reasons for the project's closure include its proposed location in a highly-value wetlands area, tensions between its development partners (Arup, a British engineering company, and Shanghai Industrial Investment, a state-owned developer), and loss of political support (due to the jailing of Dongtan's top political backer, former Shanghai Communist Party chief Chen Liangyu, on corruption charges in 2008).

Their brief called for integrated sustainable urban planning and design to create a city as close to carbon-neutral as possible within economic constraints.

Peter Head, director of Arup's sustainable urban design, led the project for the firm from its London's office (during design, Arup claims to have offset the emissions of its team's travel to and from the site in cooperation with emissions brokerage firm CO2e).

Transport vehicles will run on batteries or hydrogen-fuel cells and not use any diesel or petrol, creating a relatively quiet city," according to Head's original plan.

[12] The British engineering consultancy firm Arup was contracted in 2005 by the developer, the Shanghai Industrial Investment Company (SIIC), to design and masterplan Dongtan as the first of a planned series of eco-cities.

Former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone praised Dongtan as pioneering work leading to a more sustainable future.

[17] Critics have argued that Dongtan will not have a big impact on existing Chinese cities, which will still house the majority of the population.

[18] The main designer, Thomas V. Harwood III, is also taking part in many environmentally less friendly projects in China, including airports and office blocks.