Further doubts cast on eco towns proposals – some by Government departments

Unpublished documents from Natural England have been revealed to cast doubts on the majority of eco towns proposals, with problems relating to water availability, transport links and site maintenance and preparation. The Environment Agency and the Highways Agency have both declined to release their reports on eco towns to the BBC, despite requets through legitimate channels.

The Campaign For Better Transport has also cast doubts on travel policy for eco towns.

The news comes as the Government makes its latest attempts to clarify and defend its eco towns proposals.

It has stressed that eco-towns will be like any other proposed developments with planning applications decided on their own merits, after a law firm suggested that local authorities will need to forcibly buy land.

Business law firm LG pointed to the experience of the UK New Town’s programme during the 1970s and suggested significant land assembly problems this time round.
 
Stephen Turnbull, a planning partner at the legal firm, said: 'Large-scale land assembly normally requires the use of compulsory purchase orders by local authorities, and these are very often contested. In this case local authorities themselves could be opposed and refuse to issue the necessary orders - all of which is likely to result in considerable complexity and delays.'

Turnbull added: 'Under current proposals the vast bulk of the land needed for the new eco-towns will need to come from the private sector, although I doubt there’s ever been a new town built in the UK before on this basis. We believe it will be important and probably necessary for significantly more land for eco-towns to come from the public sector if these are to have a realistic chance of getting built.'

A spokesperson for Communities and Local Government said: 'Promoters of the shortlisted locations are at different stages of development so it's not possible to comment on issues related to land assembly. It will of course be an issue for the promoters to deal with, as with any development.

'Following the announcement of the shortlisted locations with potential to be eco-towns later in the year the individual schemes, like any other proposed development, will then need to submit planning applications which will be decided on the merits of the proposal.'

These comments surfaced as ministers published a poll which revealed that current support for the development of eco-towns among the general public outnumbers opposition by a ratio of 5:1.

The Government-sponsored research, by Andrew Irving Associates and You Gov, was timed to appear as the next phase of the consultation process around the eco-town programme got under way. This will involve road shows and three months of further consultations.

Housing and planning Minister Caroline Flint said: 'Eco-towns are a new concept in England and we know that they invoke strong opinions. That's why the consultation process is so important. However, our initial research among the general public shows clear support in favour of eco-towns.

'This is an important consultation, but all voices should be heard, not just those who shout loudest. We recognise that some people do have concerns, but this research underlines the real recognition among the general public of the importance of building more affordable homes, and their support for the idea of an eco-town in the local area.

'We are running a rigorous process to decide which locations are selected to go forward to the next stage. Proposals which do not deliver real benefits and do not meet the highest possible standards will not get through our scrutiny. The process is open, transparent and inclusive and we will be testing every detail of the proposals with local authorities, stakeholders and local communities themselves.

'We believe eco-towns can provide new, sustainable housing which can bring tangible benefits and an improved quality of life for thousands of people. We are strongly urging anyone with an interest in our housing shortage, more sustainable living and climate change to give us their views.'

The results of this poll were published on this day hundreds of protesters fighting individual eco-town schemes converged on Parliament to voice their concerns.

Countryside campaigners the Council for the Protection of Rural England has argued that the Government should concentrate on one or two “truly exemplary schemes''.

But the Town and Country Planning Association claimed that the views and voices of those without homes were being drowned out and swamped by the opponents of individual projects.
And in a related development the Royal Town Planning Institute argued that the Government should raise the minimum environmental standards that the eco-towns must achieve and broaden the concept to include regeneration and urban expansion projects.