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Watch the talks from Concreting the countryside [May 2008]

Click the image for a full size map of eco town proposals across England (DCLG)

Eco-towns are the government's proposed new housing in England intended to response to the challenges of climate change, the need for more sustainable living and the need to increase housing supply to reach government targets of 3 million Staiths South Bank, Gatesheadew homes in England by 2020.

The UK faces some serious challenges over the next twenty years: the real need for more homesand the need to reduce carbon emissions. Addressing housing and tackling climate change are two of the government's key priorities.

Plans by housing minister Caroline Flint are to build 10 eco-towns in total, 5 of which are to be completed by 2016, with the remainder completed by 2020.

Similar eco-focused developments such as Hammarby Sjostad in Sweden, suggest that emphasis will be on green space, renewable energy sources and sustainable transport solutions.

What are eco-towns?

The Government’s invited eco-town proposals with the release of the Eco-town Prospectus released by the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) in July 2007. The eco-towns programme will create affordable housing and achieve high standards of sustainable living.

The following are listed as essential requirements for an eco-town:

• between 5,000-20,000 homes

• a place with a distinct identity but good links to surrounding towns and cities

• a zero-carbon development, excelling in at least one area of environmental technology

• a good range of facilities within the town, such as business and  leisure spaces, a secondary school and local shopping areas

• at least 30% affordable housing, providing a mixture of both housing and communities

• a delivery organisation to oversee the town and its development, providing support for people, businesses and the community

Background to eco-towns

The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, stressed the importance of new housing early into his term in office in June 2007 when he revealed the role that eco-towns are to play in realising the target of 3 million new homes by 2020.

In April 2008 housing minister Caroline Flint announced 15 shortlisted eco-town proposals from 57 originally submitted. The 15 sites are a mixture of both former military and industrial sites designated as brownfield land and greenfield or previously undeveloped land. The government however, have repeated promises that sites will not be built on greenbelt land.

The 15 proposed sites are spread across England and include places in Nottinghamshire, Hampshire, Yorkshire and Oxfordshire.

Public reaction to eco-towns

Initial responses to eco-towns have been severe, with local villages and towns near the proposed sites establishing campaign groups to lead resistance. Various e-petitions have attracted thousands of signatures, with a current petition relating to the proposal at Hanley Grange, Cambridge so far attracting over 4,000 signatures.

View the eco-towns e-petitions

Despite government reassurances, the development of these new towns risk creating isolated pockets of housing which will be badly linked into existing local communities.

Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) warns eco-towns could become little more than slightly greened commuter villages, putting further pressures on the local transport infrastructure. But Caroline Flint has stated that “only those proposals that reach the highest standards of sustainability will make it through”.

Conservative minister, Nick Herbert MP, has claimed that some eco-towns such as Ford in Sussex are being misleadingly labelled as brownfield developments, when only a minority of the proposed site is within classified brownfield land with the remaining extending into arable farming land and greenfield sites.

Few argue against the growing need for more housing, but opposition has focused on the intrusive nature of such large scale developments being forced upon communities without their full consideration.

The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) have stated that the current plan lead is “too slow”, echoing comments by TCPA Chief Executive, Gideon Amos that the development process will have to work “considerably faster if politicians' desire to have big proposals, such as for Eco-towns, decided quickly”.

  Read the full TCPA statement on eco towns

Some fear the government will fast track the process by using the New Towns Act to create a special planning body which will bypass local councils. In a speech to the New Local Government Network on 4 June 2008, Caroline Flint made efforts to reassure local residents that “communities will have their voice heard”. She also made further assurances that no short-cuts will be made in the planning process.

  Read the full speech

Eco Towns Challenge Panel

To ensure high standard proposals the government has introduced the speech Eco-Towns Challenge Panel - twelve experts from the worlds of design, the environment, transport and sustainability. The panel will help raise the standard of every proposal, providing expert advice and encouraging new thinking to demonstrate innovative approaches to sustainable development.

 Read the panels first recommendations

During the government's current second phase of public consultation, roadshows will take place around the shortlisted sites, sustainability assessments carried out and a draft planning policy statement released. A decision on the final list of 10 locations is expected later this year.

 Read Caroline Flint's speech

Watch the talks from Concreting the countryside [May 2008]