This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7708149.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
New question marks over eco-towns New question marks over eco-towns
(about 3 hours later)
Nearly all the locations earmarked for new eco-towns have question marks about them, ministers have acknowledged.Nearly all the locations earmarked for new eco-towns have question marks about them, ministers have acknowledged.
Of the 12 sites identified as having development potential, only one - Rackheath near Norwich - is currently regarded as "generally suitable".Of the 12 sites identified as having development potential, only one - Rackheath near Norwich - is currently regarded as "generally suitable".
The site in Weston Otmoor, Oxfordshire, is the most unlikely to proceed.The site in Weston Otmoor, Oxfordshire, is the most unlikely to proceed.
Ministers say every town must have at least 40% of its area as "green space". The Tories say they are "an eco-con". The Lib Dems call it an "eco-gimmick".Ministers say every town must have at least 40% of its area as "green space". The Tories say they are "an eco-con". The Lib Dems call it an "eco-gimmick".
Ministers have said any new towns will be subject to the "toughest ever green standards" but MPs have still urged ministers to rethink the economic and environmental implications of the policy. The government intends to build up to ten eco-towns in England, which it says will be subject to the "toughest ever green standards".
Its shortlist has been reduced to 12 sites after plans for a town at the former RAF airfield at Coltishall in Norwich, which had been opposed locally, were dropped.
Instead Norwich authorities proposed the Rackheath scheme, which, following a study into their likely impact on the environment and local community, is the only site to have won an "A" rating, meaning it faces fewer potential obstacles than any other location.
Western Otmoor was given the lowest "C" rating, described as only suitable if there is "substantial and exceptional innovation".
The remaining ten schemes were all rated "B" which denotes areas which "might be a suitable location subject to meeting specific planning and design objectives".
They are:
  • Middle Quinton, Warwickshire/Worcestershire
  • Newton-Bingham, Nottinghamshire
  • Ford, West Sussex
  • Bordon-Whitehill, Hampshire
  • St Austell, Cornwall
  • Rossington, South Yorkshire
  • North East Elsenham, Essex
  • Pennbury, Leicestershire
  • Marston Vale, Bedfordshire
  • North West Bicester, Oxfordshire
The final shortlist is expected in the New Year, although the government says they will still have to go through the normal planning process.
I do not expect all of these locations to go forward Margaret BeckettI do not expect all of these locations to go forward Margaret Beckett
In a recent report, the Environment Audit Committee expressed concerns about what job opportunities and public transport services would be available to residents of any new towns. The ratings were published as the government announced the second phase of its public consultation on Tuesday.
The government initially set its sight on 15 new eco-towns across England as models for future sustainable development. A proposed site in Leeds has also been dropped from the list and housing minister Margaret Beckett has said others will follow.
Residents close to several of the proposed developments fiercely oppose the plans.
Sustainability
Announcing the second phase of its public consultation, ministers said 12 sites would be taken forward for consideration.
Of these, ten have been deemed "potentially suitable" subject to them meeting specific planning and design requirements.
They are:
  • Middle Quinton, Warwickshire
  • Newton-Bingham, Nottinghamshire
  • Ford, West Sussex
  • Bordon-Whitehill, Hampshire
  • St Austell, Cornwall
  • Rossington, South Yorkshire
  • North East Elsenham, Essex
  • Pennbury, Leicestershire
  • Marston Vale, Bedfordshire
  • North West Bicester, Oxfordshire
Following a study into their likely impact on the environment and local community, Western Otmoor was given the lowest "grade C" rating, meaning that it is extremely unlikely to proceed.
On the other hand, the site at Rackham, on the outskirts of Norwich, has been classified as "grade A" - meaning it faces fewer potential obstacles than any other location.
It is no wonder that the government has published the long-awaited small print on eco-towns on the day of the US elections Grant ShappsShadow housing minister
Rackham was proposed as an alternative to a nearby site at Coltishall which has been dropped. A proposed site in Leeds has also been dropped from the list.
Housing minister Margaret Beckett has said that some of the remaining sites could fall by the wayside.
"I believe it is vital we get the locations for these eco-towns right and the shortlist has been refined to reflect the results of the most detailed assessment to date on these potential locations," she said."I believe it is vital we get the locations for these eco-towns right and the shortlist has been refined to reflect the results of the most detailed assessment to date on these potential locations," she said.
"I do not expect all of these locations to go forward - the eco-town standards are tough and I think some of these shortlisted schemes could struggle to meet them.""I do not expect all of these locations to go forward - the eco-town standards are tough and I think some of these shortlisted schemes could struggle to meet them."
Eco-towns, expected to sustain between 5,000 and 20,000 homes, will be required to go through the same planning processes as other major developments. 'Zero carbon'
Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps, said: "It is no wonder that the government has published the long-awaited small print on eco-towns on the day of the US elections. Eco-towns, expected to sustain between 5,000 and 20,000 homes, will be required to go through the same planning processes as other major developments, says the government.
"Labour ministers have admitted that many of their so-called eco-towns will be built on green fields. It also published on Tuesday a draft planning policy statement, which sets out the standards expected of eco-towns, including that they will achieve "zero carbon status" across all buildings and that 40% of the area will be green space.
"Conservatives have always said that we will lend our support to genuinely environmentally friendly housing schemes. But Gordon Brown's so-called eco-towns have become an eco-con." Local democracy has been consigned to the scrapheap and the voice of local residents will be ignored Grant ShappsShadow housing minister
But the Conservatives say the statement would allow eco-towns applications to be pushed through the usual planning process.
Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps said: "The government is now intending to fiddle the whole planning process, by imposing Whitehall diktats on local councils, forcing them to accept these unsustainable new developments.
"Local democracy has been consigned to the scrapheap and the voice of local residents will be ignored, just to satisfy Gordon Brown's arbitrary targets to build these new towns."
The Local Government Association says the government should not "force through" eco-towns against local wishes.
Chairman Margaret Eaton said: "Using a national planning policy statement isn't just ill-advised, according to our lawyers it may be unlawful."
Lib Dem housing spokeswoman Sarah Teather said: "Ministers are using their eco-towns policy to hide their failure to demand proper environmental standards from all new developments.Lib Dem housing spokeswoman Sarah Teather said: "Ministers are using their eco-towns policy to hide their failure to demand proper environmental standards from all new developments.
"The Government must abandon this eco-gimmick and set tough environmental standards for all new homes and developments." "The government must abandon this eco-gimmick and set tough environmental standards for all new homes and developments."
But the latest stage of the process was welcomed by the housing charity Shelter, which said they would play "a vital part in delivering desperately needed housing".