New eco towns consultation documents published

A second round of consultation on eco-towns, based on the draft Planning Policy Statement on eco-towns, and the accompanying Sustainability Appraisal which has been carried out for the policy and the shortlisted eco-town locations, has been published www.communities.gov.uk/ecotowns.

Eco-towns have been developed in response to two major challenges - the threat of climate change and the national housing shortage. They will pioneer more sustainable living so that we can learn the lessons for future developments and help meet housing need in areas where this shortage is particularly acute.

In April,  a short-list of proposed locations wsa published, alongside a consultation document 'Living a Greener Future'. A progress report was published in July, to set out our emerging thinking on eco-town standards. 

These latest documents are the next stage of consultation in delivering eco-towns successfully. They include an updated programme of shortlisted locations and a summary of responses to the earlier consultation. 

The Sustainability Appraisal indicates that there remain some important outstanding issues which need to be addressed before the draft PPS and list of locations can be finalised. Issues of sustainability, viability and deliverability remain. The eco-town requirements are challenging and I do not expect that all locations will be endorsed. I have no fixed view on the number of locations that will go forward from this process and the next stages in this ongoing assessment and consultation process will ensure that the necessary further work is completed before decisions are taken.

Draft Planning Policy Statement    

The draft Planning Policy Statement (PPS) sets out the standards for an eco-town and the planning policy context. The standards set out in this draft PPS are consistent with other relevant planning policies - including PPS1, PPS3 and PPS Planning and Climate Change. However, given our higher expectations for eco-towns, it goes further and sets the highest ever environmental standards for new development.

The draft PPS also sets out the planning process for eco-towns. Applications for eco-towns are to be considered in the same way as any other major development proposal. The development plan remains the starting point for the determination of these applications. However, where the plan is out of date then any application should be treated on its merits, taking in to account all material considerations which include the PPS.

Sustainability Appraisal and the Eco-towns programme

An Eco-Towns Sustainability Appraisal (SA) Report covering the draft PPS, and the programme, including the proposed eco-town locations is also being published.  The SA report, which has been carried out by consultants Scott Wilson, identifies and evaluates the likely impact of the proposals on the local economy, community and environment and considers reasonable alternatives. It also suggests measures for improving the proposals. Taking account of the Sustainability Appraisal, and of the effect of promoters withdrawing their schemes from the programme, we will be consulting on the following 12 shortlisted locations in this next stage. They have been assessed in the Sustainability Appraisal in three bands:

A: locations that are generally suitable for an eco-town;

B: locations that might be suitable subject to meeting specific planning and design objectives;

C: locations that are only likely to be suitable as an eco-town with substantial and exceptional innovation.