Eco-town plan needs 'careful consideration'

The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England says careful thought has to be given if the initiative is to work properly.

Two rival groups have bid 5,000 homes at Ford under the government's eco-town proposals.

It is believed that more than 50 bids around the country have been put forward. A decision about the ten which have been chosen is expected shortly.

But a CPRE spokesman said the scheme risked becoming mired in controversy.

"In order to provide examples for others to follow, it is vital that eco-towns are properly planned," he said.

"A key issue is how decisions on eco-towns relate to existing local and regional plans."

These were subject to extensive public consultation and testing of evidence.

But the government's commitment to consultation about eco-towns was unclear, he continued.

The government could invoke the New Towns Act to secure the development.

He said: "This would be heavy-handed. To secure public support for eco-towns, the government should not undermine the planning system and the considerable time, effort and expense communities have put into drawing up local and regional plans."

He stated that eco-towns should be subject to the same tests as other new settlement proposals.

He added: "For eco-towns to succeed they must be well integrated with existing settlements and agreed with, not imposed upon, local communities.

"They should not be a smokescreen for making housebuilding appear more palatable."

The CPRE, which sympathises with the eco-town idea, will assess the shortlisted schemes against ten criteria.

These include full consultation, thorough testing against existing development policies, evidence that a new settlement was better than extending existing towns and provided schools, jobs and community and health facilities.