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Local communities will get their next chance to have their say on the eco-town proposals as Housing Minister Margaret Beckett today launches the Government's second round of formal consultation on the proposed locations and standards for eco-towns.
The draft Eco-towns Planning Policy Statement (PPS) published today for consultation sets out the UK's toughest ever green standards for new development, including achieving zero carbon status across all the buildings in the eco-town and allocating 40% of the area within the town to be green space. The PPS also pledges that individual eco-towns will need to submit planning applications in the same way as any other major development proposal.
A detailed Sustainability Appraisal on each location is also published today. This identifies and evaluates the likely impact of the proposals on the local economy, community and environment, and considers reasonable alternatives. The consultation starting today will be on 12 shortlisted locations, as a result of the Sustainability Appraisals and the previous decision of some promoters to withdraw from this process.
Mrs Beckett said: "I believe it is vital we get the locations for these eco-towns right, and the shortlist has been refined to reflect the results of the most detailed assessment to date on these potential locations. But I do not expect all of these locations to go forward - the eco-town standards are tough and I think some of these shortlisted schemes could struggle to meet them. Everyone has the opportunity to have their say on these proposals, both now and in the future when planning applications are received
."
The shortlist includes two schemes proposed as reasonable alternatives in the course of the Sustainability Appraisal, by local authorities, at Rackheath (Norwich) and North West Bicester (Cherwell). In the case of the two areas of further review identified in April's initial shortlist, at Rushcliffe, the Newton/ Bingham scheme has been included for consultation and assessment. In the Leeds City Region we have agreed to pursue separately the local authorities' proposal for an urban eco-community of similar scale which would pilot eco-town standards.
The Sustainability Appraisal has assessed the majority of the shortlisted locations as Grade B sites, which would be suitable for eco-towns subject to meeting specific planning and design objectives. One location has been rated as Grade A, which is generally suitable for an eco-town, and one location as Grade C, which is only likely to be suitable for an eco-town with substantial and exceptional innovation.
The current shortlist of 12 potential locations for eco-towns (together with the Leeds City urban eco-community) are listed below.
The Sustainability Appraisal has assessed three grades of location:
Grade A: generally suitable for an eco-town;
Grade B: Might be a suitable location subject to meeting specific planning and design objectives;
Grade C: Location only likely to be suitable as an eco-town with substantial and exceptional innovation.
The second round of consultation on eco-towns now runs until 19 February 2009. As part of this consultation a new website has been launched to both explain the eco-towns concept and standards, and to invite comments and ideas. Over the next month Communities and Local Government will also be running roadshow events in local areas close to the proposed eco-town locations to encourage awareness and responses to the consultation.
Action to protect the retail depositors in Icesave, Heritable and Kaupthing Edge
