Tuesday, November 04, 2008
First published : PlanningResource
Rackheath, the eco-town proposal backed by local authorities in Greater Norwich looks to be the front-runner to make the government`s final eco-town shortlist.
Of the 12 schemes currently on the shortlist, only Rackheath was assessed as grade A, which is generally suitable for an eco-town, in the sustainability appraisal, published today.
The appraisal identifies and evaluates the likely impact of the proposals on the local economy, community and environment, and considers reasonable alternatives.
The majority of the sites would be suitable for eco-towns subject to meeting specific planning and design objectives and achieved grade B.
One location, Weston Otmoor, has been rated as grade C, which is only likely to be suitable for an eco-town with substantial and exceptional innovation.
The sustainability appraisal was published today in conjunction with the long-awaited draft eco-towns Planning Policy Statement (PPS) as housing minister Margaret Beckett launched a second round of consultation on the proposed locations and standards for eco-towns.
The PPS sets out the green standards for the new developments, including achieving zero carbon status across all the buildings in the eco-town and allocating 40 per cent of the area within the town to be green space.
It also pledges that individual eco-towns will need to submit planning applications in the same way as any other major development proposal.
Beckett said that eco-towns "represent an opportunity to trial the kind of green technology that I hope will become commonplace in all new development. The government must be at the forefront of the green agenda."
Town and Country Planning Association chief executive Gideon Amos said: "Work should start today on how and when the lessons of exemplar eco-towns can begin to inform and influence the drive to zero carbon across the existing housing stock in our towns and cities.
"The success of an exemplar eco-town will pave the way for renewing our current neighbourhoods as eco-burbs and urban eco-quarters."
Beckett added that she "did not expect all of these locations to go forward – the eco-town standards are tough and I think some of these shortlisted schemes could struggle to meet them."
The second round of consultation on eco-towns now runs until 19 February