Eco-town site shortlist unveiled by government
Thursday, 03 Apr 2008 12:39
Potential eco-town sites unveiled by government
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A 15-strong shortlist of potential sites for the government's eco-town developments has been unveiled.
Over the next six months five sites will be removed from the list to give a final total of ten new towns.
Towns in Hampshire, Norfolk, Staffordshire, Essex, Sussex, Cambridgeshire, Cornwall, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Bedfordshire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Oxfordshire are all included in the plans.
The planned towns will be the first new settlements to be built in the UK for 40 years – following the development of Milton Keynes and Stevenage in the late 1960s.
As many as 42 others proposals were rejected by the government during the planning process – many for their incursion into greenbelt land.
The developments will be environmentally-friendly, built from recycled materials and will feature renewable low-energy technology to ensure they remain carbon-neutral.
"Bidders will have to meet the highest standards for sustainability, affordability and creativity. This expert panel will challenge developers to the limits," explained housing minister Caroline Flint.
Gordon Brown announced proposals for the development of five new towns upon coming to power in 2007.
However, the initial warm reception of the scheme prompted the prime minister to double the commitment to ten at the Labour conference later in the year.
Potential eco-town locations:
Bordon, Hampshire
Coltishall, Norfolk
Curborough, Staffordshire
Elsenham, Essex
Ford, West Sussex
Hanley Grange, Cambridgeshire
Imerys, Cornwall
Leeds city region, West Yorkshire
Manby, Lincolnshire
Marston Vale and New Marston, Bedfordshire
Middle Quinton, Warwickshire
Pennbury, Leicestershire
Rossington, South Yorkshire
Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire
Weston Otmoor, Oxfordshire