Government announces second wave of eco towns

In July, Healey announced that four locations had met the strict criteria for zero carbon developments. The sites in Hampshire, Norfolk, Cornwall and Oxfordshire are currently developing masterplans for local planning approval. Healey also laid out ambitious plans in July for a further six eco communities to be built by 2020.

On Tuesday, the Housing Minister announced that a number of other local authorities are considering plans to develop nine new communities to eco town standards.

To qualify to become an eco-town a development must have 5,000 homes, at least 30 per cent of which should be affordable for those on low incomes, and contain low-carbon services, buildings, transport and energy.

The second wave plans comprise developments at Shoreham Harbour, West Sussex and Northstowe in Cambridge, both of which aim to attain the high standards of a zero carbon town. Four of the proposed second wave sites are in the Leeds City Region, while Taunton and Lincoln both have two; the other developments will be located in Yeovil and Coventry.

The Government aims to build 10 eco-towns by 2020, but it appears the new sites will comprise clusters of no more than 5000 homes on the edge of urban areas, which will be smaller and cheaper to build than the expansive communities originally envisaged by the Government.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Gordon Brown laid out a vision of new eco towns to be developed across the UK. The Prime Minister promised these world-leading zero carbon developments would address the twin challenges of climate change and the national housing shortage and that each development under the scheme would have zero-carbon shops, restaurants and public buildings and at least half of all journeys within and from the town would be made by foot, cycle or public transport. Moreover, each town will comprise 30 per cent affordable housing, and one member of each working couple could be expected to work in the community.

The Communities Department said that the new expressions of interest were backed by local councils, which it says will give the developments more chance of acquiring planning permission.

But none of the locations on Healey’s original short list appear to have made it on to the ‘second wave’ list of green developments, with all of the earlier schemes appearing to have stalled according to a report in the Times. Many had met with fierce local opposition, amid protests that they would blight the countryside and create more environmental problems than they would solve. Furthermore, developers on a number of the earlier schemes have dropped out of the projects altogether.

The latest proposals are still expected to meet with some local opposition from rural campaigners, though the Government hopes this will be less than that attracted by the potential sites earmarked for eco development earlier in the year.

The Government still believes its eco towns will pioneer more sustainable living. New homes in the green towns will be fitted, it is said, with a combination of biomass fuel, solar panels, insulation, water recyling and double glazing, as well as state-of-the-art green gadgets, such as electronic bus timetables on kitchen walls to advise of approaching free transport.

“We are leading the world with these developments which combine affordable housing with new green infrastructures and an exceptional quality of life," said Healey.

It remains to be seen, though, whether the second wave of developments will attract developers to partner with local authorities or more protests from rural campaigners and local opposition groups.