SSR NEWS
ECO-TOWNS – the beginning of the end?
In what is becoming a regular feature in our newsletter, the Eco-Towns initiative continues to make the planning press, with twists and turns happening with such regularity that it is often difficult to keep up to speed.
According to the Department of Communities and Local Government web site, eco-towns will be “exemplar green developments of up to 20,000 homes”, and “designed to meet the highest standards of sustainability, including low and zero carbon technologies and good public transport”; oh and 30 to 50% of the new homes will be affordable housing.
Like most things that sound too good to be true, the eco-town model is unlikely to prove deliverable in its current form. The sharp economic downturn coupled with the ever increasing costs of promoting major developments of this nature have undoubtedly had a major and damaging impact, as has the extent of public opposition in most of the potential locations. In its Eco-Towns Update report published on 24 July 2008, the Government noted that the schemes at Manby (Lincolnshire) and Curborough (Staffordshire) had been withdrawn by their promoters, leaving 13 locations to be assessed further, although only 10 of these are actual sites, with 3 still being broad geographical areas: Rushcliffe (Nottinghamshire), Leeds City Region and Greater Norwich.
Since then, a recent high profile casualty is the scheme at Hanley Grange, Cambridgeshire, where the local authorities concerned mounted a high profile and persuasive case of opposition. Interestingly, the same authorities are still grappling with the delivery of the ‘proto-type’ eco-town of Northstowe, which was brought forward through the development plan system, which many would argue is the proper channel. Perhaps it would be a good idea to see if this scheme is deliverable before embarking on a wider programme?
The next casualty could well be the ecotown planned for Middle Quinton, Warwickshire, where the High Court has granted an application for a Judicial Review, on the basis that the Government only began public consultation after the short-list had been decided, thus breaching the rules established by the Aarhus Convention. Indeed if this challenge is successful, it would derail the whole eco-towns initiative which would be highly embarrassing for the Government.
The Government’s original aim of having about 10 short-listed potential eco-town locations is therefore now looking increasingly optimistic, with the general consensus being that only 3 schemes have a good chance of being selected – Rossington (Doncaster), Marston Vale and Bordon- Whitehill (Hampshire).
A draft Planning Policy Statement was to be issued in September, but unsurprisingly this has not materialised – don’t hold your breath though, especially as we now have yet another new Housing Minister!
Geoff Bolton
