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| 'Eco-towns' shortlist is revealed | 'Eco-towns' shortlist is revealed |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| The 15 locations shortlisted for the first new towns in England in 40 years have been revealed by the government. | The 15 locations shortlisted for the first new towns in England in 40 years have been revealed by the government. |
| Bordon, Coltishall, Curborough, Elsenham plus Ford in West Sussex have made the list, as well as Hanley Grange, Imerys, Leeds and Manby. | Bordon, Coltishall, Curborough, Elsenham plus Ford in West Sussex have made the list, as well as Hanley Grange, Imerys, Leeds and Manby. |
| Marston Vale and New Marston in Bedfordshire, Middle Quinton, Pennbury, Rossington, Rushcliffe and Weston Otmoor make up the 15. | Marston Vale and New Marston in Bedfordshire, Middle Quinton, Pennbury, Rossington, Rushcliffe and Weston Otmoor make up the 15. |
| The 10 sites for the "eco-towns" will be finalised in the next six months. | The 10 sites for the "eco-towns" will be finalised in the next six months. |
| Ministers wants five of them built by 2016, with the other half completed by 2020. | Ministers wants five of them built by 2016, with the other half completed by 2020. |
| The plans have proved controversial in some areas with campaigners saying the idea is a way to evade planning controls. | The plans have proved controversial in some areas with campaigners saying the idea is a way to evade planning controls. |
| Most of the planned sites are expected to face local opposition, something thought to be worrying Labour strategists. | Most of the planned sites are expected to face local opposition, something thought to be worrying Labour strategists. |
| It's tackling both the challenge of climate change and the need for more families to have a future in a home of their own Caroline Flint, housing minister Diagram of an eco-house | It's tackling both the challenge of climate change and the need for more families to have a future in a home of their own Caroline Flint, housing minister Diagram of an eco-house |
| Grant Shapps, the shadow housing minister, accused the government of "eco-spin rather than a genuine attempt to address the environmental nature of our housing". | Grant Shapps, the shadow housing minister, accused the government of "eco-spin rather than a genuine attempt to address the environmental nature of our housing". |
| The new environmentally-friendly towns - low-energy, carbon-neutral developments built from recycled materials - will be the first new towns since the 1960s. | The new environmentally-friendly towns - low-energy, carbon-neutral developments built from recycled materials - will be the first new towns since the 1960s. |
| The largest will provide between 15,000 and 20,000 new homes, with officials saying the towns should be "zero-carbon" developments and should be exemplary in one area of sustainability, such as energy production or waste disposal. | The largest will provide between 15,000 and 20,000 new homes, with officials saying the towns should be "zero-carbon" developments and should be exemplary in one area of sustainability, such as energy production or waste disposal. |
| They also want 30% to 40% of each eco-town to be allocated as affordable housing. | They also want 30% to 40% of each eco-town to be allocated as affordable housing. |
| 'Highest standards' | 'Highest standards' |
| 'ECO-TOWNS' SHORTLIST Bordon, HampshireColtishall, NorfolkCurborough, StaffordshireElsenham, EssexFord, West SussexHanley Grange, CambridgeshireImerys, nr St Austell, CornwallLeeds city region, West YorkshireManby, LincolnshireMarston Vale and New Marston, BedfordshireMiddle Quinton, WarwickshirePennbury, LeicestershireRossington, South YorkshireRushcliffe, NottinghamshireWeston Otmoor, Oxfordshire Source: Department of Communities and Local Government The plans: Site-by-site | |
| The housing minister, Caroline Flint, said the new towns would help to tackle climate change, as well as providing affordable new housing. | |
| "We have a housing shortage in this country and that's why we need to build more homes," she told BBC News 24. | "We have a housing shortage in this country and that's why we need to build more homes," she told BBC News 24. |
| "But we also need to think about sustainable homes in sustainable communities." | "But we also need to think about sustainable homes in sustainable communities." |
| The shortlisted locations would have the potential to provide affordable housing and "the highest green standards we can expect for the way we want to live our lives in the future", added Ms Flint. | The shortlisted locations would have the potential to provide affordable housing and "the highest green standards we can expect for the way we want to live our lives in the future", added Ms Flint. |
| "It's tackling both the challenge of climate change and the need for more families to have a future in a home of their own." | "It's tackling both the challenge of climate change and the need for more families to have a future in a home of their own." |
| One of the 15 - Rossington in South Yorkshire - falls within her own Parliamentary constituency. | One of the 15 - Rossington in South Yorkshire - falls within her own Parliamentary constituency. |
| The government plans to form a panel of experts who will subject potential developers to tough tests before they win the right to build the towns. | The government plans to form a panel of experts who will subject potential developers to tough tests before they win the right to build the towns. |
| Ms Flint said: "Bidders will have to meet the highest standards for sustainability, affordability and creativity. This expert panel will challenge developers to the limits." | Ms Flint said: "Bidders will have to meet the highest standards for sustainability, affordability and creativity. This expert panel will challenge developers to the limits." |
| The government is stressing that any new towns proposed will have to go through the normal planning process, and that local people and other interested bodies will have the right to challenge the plans. | The government is stressing that any new towns proposed will have to go through the normal planning process, and that local people and other interested bodies will have the right to challenge the plans. |
| It is reported the parents of tennis player Tim Henman have opposed the plan for the Weston Otmoor eco-town in Oxfordshire and have begun a campaign dubbed "Weston Front". | It is reported the parents of tennis player Tim Henman have opposed the plan for the Weston Otmoor eco-town in Oxfordshire and have begun a campaign dubbed "Weston Front". |
| Unless you do something about the existing stock, putting up a few eco-towns amounts to a tiny fraction of the total housing we will require Grant Shapps, shadow housing minister | Unless you do something about the existing stock, putting up a few eco-towns amounts to a tiny fraction of the total housing we will require Grant Shapps, shadow housing minister |
| Mr Shapps said the Conservatives would "always back plans for sustainable eco-communities". | Mr Shapps said the Conservatives would "always back plans for sustainable eco-communities". |
| "But I'm afraid there are several on this list which will cause immediate concern to local people because they're being built on green fields," he added. | "But I'm afraid there are several on this list which will cause immediate concern to local people because they're being built on green fields," he added. |
| "Of the housing we'll be living in, halfway through this century, three-quarters of it is already built. | "Of the housing we'll be living in, halfway through this century, three-quarters of it is already built. |
| "Unless you do something about the existing stock, putting up a few eco-towns amounts to a tiny fraction of the total housing we will require." | "Unless you do something about the existing stock, putting up a few eco-towns amounts to a tiny fraction of the total housing we will require." |
| He also stressed the need to ensure inhabitants of new eco-towns did not have to commut in order to work. | He also stressed the need to ensure inhabitants of new eco-towns did not have to commut in order to work. |
| If this happened, the sites would be "not that environmentally-friendly at all", Mr Shapps said. | If this happened, the sites would be "not that environmentally-friendly at all", Mr Shapps said. |
| Pollution fears | Pollution fears |
| According to BBC environment analyst Roger Harrabin, eco-towns are a way of increasing housing in areas of England where demand outstrips supply. | According to BBC environment analyst Roger Harrabin, eco-towns are a way of increasing housing in areas of England where demand outstrips supply. |
| They will also go some way to satisfying the demands of the powerful house-builders lobby, and will provide a laboratory for the sort of environmentally-conscious homes that ministers want to become the norm, he said. | They will also go some way to satisfying the demands of the powerful house-builders lobby, and will provide a laboratory for the sort of environmentally-conscious homes that ministers want to become the norm, he said. |
| But there are concerns among environmental campaigners that most of the proposed eco-towns will increase car pollution because they will not be big or diverse enough to sustain viable public transport. | But there are concerns among environmental campaigners that most of the proposed eco-towns will increase car pollution because they will not be big or diverse enough to sustain viable public transport. |
| Back to link | Back to link |
| Among 42 rejected locations were controversial sites in Hampshire, Oxfordshire and Derbyshire. | Among 42 rejected locations were controversial sites in Hampshire, Oxfordshire and Derbyshire. |
| Micheldever Station, Grovewood in Derbyshire national forest and Shipton Quarry were some of the areas which failed to make the shortlist. | Micheldever Station, Grovewood in Derbyshire national forest and Shipton Quarry were some of the areas which failed to make the shortlist. |
| Most were on greenbelt land, threatened wildlife or were similar to projects previously denied planning permission. | Most were on greenbelt land, threatened wildlife or were similar to projects previously denied planning permission. |
| The developments on the shortlist of 15 are to be built over the next decade, as part of the government's plans for three million new homes by 2020. | The developments on the shortlist of 15 are to be built over the next decade, as part of the government's plans for three million new homes by 2020. |
| In September last year Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced that the number of towns to be built would be doubled from five to ten, because of the positive response to the original announcement. | In September last year Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced that the number of towns to be built would be doubled from five to ten, because of the positive response to the original announcement. |
| He said it would help boost house-building to 240,000 homes a year. | He said it would help boost house-building to 240,000 homes a year. |
| The eco-town idea was the first major policy announcement made by Mr Brown as he began his campaign to succeed Tony Blair as prime minister last year. | The eco-town idea was the first major policy announcement made by Mr Brown as he began his campaign to succeed Tony Blair as prime minister last year. |
| It stemmed from a policy launched by former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott two years earlier. | It stemmed from a policy launched by former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott two years earlier. |
| Do you live near one of the shortlisted eco-town sites, particularly the one at Rossington in South Yorkshire? How do you feel about the proposal? Send us your comments using the form below: | |
| You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via mobile please dial 61124. | You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via mobile please dial 61124. |
| If you have a large file you can upload here. | If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |