Battlelines drawn in conflict over eco-town proposals
The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) says new towns are the ‘least sustainable way’ of developing housing and other plans should be examined.
Concerns being raised include the risk that the schemes degenerate into car-dependent housing estates along with most being predominantly planned for greenfield sites, with two in the Green Belt. The majority of the proposed eco-town locations go against local plans agreed with communities, and the sites have been chosen by developers rather than fitting in with planning in the wider public interest.
Most damningly, there is a complete lack of evidence to suggest the schemes offer truly sustainable models of living and working, and three bids are in the east of England where, according to CPRE, water supply and sewerage have already reached maximum capacity.
tags: eco-towns, environment, public consultations, sustainability
