Tighter controls for eco-towns

Housing minister Caroline Flint has announced the new eco-towns will have to face stricter environmental criteria to secure government support than previously outlined.

Unveiling a progress report in the proposals today Ms Flint argued only the "best quality schemes" with "very high sustainability standards" should qualify for eco-town status.

As such, the new towns will be required to achieve zero carbon status across all buildings, including commercial and public infrastructure, as well as homes.

Each individual property must now meet level four of the Code for Sustainable Development, upgrading from the previous level three.

Furthermore, 40 per cent of land within the town to be green space - at least half of which should be open to the public as parks or recreation areas.

"These would be the toughest standards ever set out for new development and demonstrate that there will be no compromise on quality with eco-towns," explained Ms Flint.

Eco-towns will also have 30 per cent social housing and contain more options for travel and reducing residents' reliance on the car.

In addition, a minimum of one job per house will be reached by sustainable transport, with every household located an average of ten minutes walk of frequent public transport and everyday neighbourhood services.

Housing presently accounts for 27 per cent of carbon emissions in the UK, with all new homes required to be carbon neutral by 2016.

The government also plans to ensure all commercial property will be carbon neutral by 2019.

"The UK needs more homes because people are living longer and more people are choosing to live alone," added Ms Flint.

"Eco-towns will meet part of our housing need by creating attractive, new communities with all the facilities that people look for when choosing a place to live."

With 15 schemes still in contention, the government is expected to announce the location of the ten new towns in early 2009.

"The standards set out by the minister today are challenging, but achievable given the availability of appropriate investment. Eco-towns, because they are new settlements, present unique opportunities to create a different kind of town from scratch," said Town and County Planning Association (TCPA) policy and projects manager, Graham Nickson.

Chris O'Toole