Eco-towns to count in housing delivery

Katie Daubney, Planning, 13 June 2008

Eco-town protest: Middle Quinton plan stirs local anger

Speaking at a Local Government Association debate, DCLG deputy director of the housing and growth programme Henry Cleary explained that eco-towns could be offset against core strategies, provided councils recognise that these numbers are always rising. But the suggestion came as a surprise to some councils represented at the meeting.

South Cambridgeshire District Council growth and sustainable communities portfolio holder David Bard said he believes that Hanley Grange, the 8,000-home eco-town proposed for his area, would be in addition to the 47,500 homes currently required by 2016 in the Cambridge sub-region.

When the shortlist of 15 eco-towns was revealed in April, Cambridgeshire joint planning director Peter Studdert warned that the scheme risks unravelling plan-led growth that the sub-region has been working on over the past decade. (Planning, 11 April, p3)

The government originally said local authorities that include an eco-town in their plans would be able to count it towards higher future housing targets, in line with the national figure of 240,000 homes per year by 2016.

Cleary also emphasised the need to accelerate local planning considerations for eco-towns. He said some of the development proposals are highly innovative and it will be necessary to start the assessment process as soon as possible to be sure of reaching the 2016 eco-town delivery target.

However, planning minister Caroline Flint has repeatedly stressed that eco-town schemes will not bypass local planning processes.

This weekend, the team behind the proposed eco-town at Pennbury, Leicestershire, will be on the site to exhibit plans and meet the public. This follows protests against the proposed eco-towns at Middle Quinton near Stratford-upon-Avon and Ford in West Sussex.