Eco towns shortlist: finding sites for development to take place

Ministers expect to publish a shortlist of eco-town schemes for consultation shortly, following a cross-Government review. Yet issues regarding land availability for development remain.

Speaking in the House, MP David Clelland,Tyne Bridge, Lab, asked why, even as Gateshead council is planning the development of a 20-acre brownfield site near the town centre for housing, 25 per cent of which would be affordable housing, site acquisition is being held up by the British Rail residuary board on the ‘rather curious premise’ that the council has depressed the valuation of the site by planning affordable housing?

Should this public body not be more au fait with Government priorities and objectives, asked Mr Clelland?

The Prime Minister replied that he would ‘of course’ look into the issue about public sector and private sector land.

Against the muddled backdrop of development priorities, the review proposals for eco towns are being assessed against the criteria set out in the Eco-towns Prospectus. This includes transport, land use and the infrastructure needed to make the development deliverable and sustainable.

Junior planning minister Iain Wright told Parliament that this exercise, which has involved Government departments, Natural England, the Environment Agency, Regional Assemblies and development agencies, will exclude sites ‘where there are too many showstoppers to allow development to take place’.

Following that process the Government plans to publish a shorter list than the 50-plus currently being considered.

Wright said the shortlist would be up to ten schemes. ‘We will take every opportunity to engage with local authorities and the public during this time to ensure that their views are heard,’ he said.

Wright also said that any planning decision on eco-towns would not override existing spatial and development plans. The minister's comments came during a Commons adjournment debate requested by Edward Garnier MP. The Co-op has proposed an eco-town in his Harborough constituency.


The PM told the Commons: ‘There have been 60 applications for eco-towns, so it does not sound as though they are unpopular - it sounds as though they are popular.’