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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Eco-towns 'face strict controls' | Eco-towns 'face strict controls' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Only eco-towns with the highest ecological standards will be chosen for construction, Housing Minister Caroline Flint has announced. | Only eco-towns with the highest ecological standards will be chosen for construction, Housing Minister Caroline Flint has announced. |
| Bids for sustainable developments were invited from across England as part of a government commitment that all new homes will be zero carbon by 2016. | Bids for sustainable developments were invited from across England as part of a government commitment that all new homes will be zero carbon by 2016. |
| But Ms Flint said most of the 60 proposals received will be rejected. | But Ms Flint said most of the 60 proposals received will be rejected. |
| Plans for the eco-towns have provoked public opposition, with action groups calling for them to be scrapped. | Plans for the eco-towns have provoked public opposition, with action groups calling for them to be scrapped. |
| Ms Flint also said she would look at setting carbon targets for non-domestic buildings such as shops and pubs. | Ms Flint also said she would look at setting carbon targets for non-domestic buildings such as shops and pubs. |
| Weak bids where the greenest element is the recycling of failed proposals won't make it through Housing Minister Caroline Flint | Weak bids where the greenest element is the recycling of failed proposals won't make it through Housing Minister Caroline Flint |
| The towns are expected to have low and zero-carbon technologies, good public transport and extensive parkland. | The towns are expected to have low and zero-carbon technologies, good public transport and extensive parkland. |
| In her first speech on the plans, Ms Flint said the criteria would be strictly applied. | In her first speech on the plans, Ms Flint said the criteria would be strictly applied. |
| "Weak bids where the greenest element is the recycling of failed proposals won't make it through," she told an audience at an ecological housing conference in Earl's Court, London. | "Weak bids where the greenest element is the recycling of failed proposals won't make it through," she told an audience at an ecological housing conference in Earl's Court, London. |
| "I would like to see eco-towns which follow the most ambitious European models where half the households do not rely on a car. | "I would like to see eco-towns which follow the most ambitious European models where half the households do not rely on a car. |
| Community focused | |
| "To help achieve this, major facilities such as schools and health centres should be located within 10 minutes' walk." | |
| The towns will be expected to meet other criteria such as: | The towns will be expected to meet other criteria such as: |
| | |
| The successful applications will receive an undisclosed level of central government funding, as well as help with meeting the requirements of local planning regulations. | The successful applications will receive an undisclosed level of central government funding, as well as help with meeting the requirements of local planning regulations. |
| Ms Flint says she is committed to tackling the housing shortage | |
| A Department of Communities and Local Government spokesman said it is expected that there would be up to five eco-towns by 2016 and 10 by 2020. | A Department of Communities and Local Government spokesman said it is expected that there would be up to five eco-towns by 2016 and 10 by 2020. |
| The department estimated the size of each town would range from 5,000 to 20,000, and possibly up to 50,000 residents. | The department estimated the size of each town would range from 5,000 to 20,000, and possibly up to 50,000 residents. |
| The spokesman said the majority of bids have been proposed for brownfield sites such as disused public sector land. | The spokesman said the majority of bids have been proposed for brownfield sites such as disused public sector land. |
| But there has been significant opposition to eco-towns from local residents who say the developments will swamp rural villages and damage wildlife for little environmental gain. | But there has been significant opposition to eco-towns from local residents who say the developments will swamp rural villages and damage wildlife for little environmental gain. |
| Angry opposition | |
| Some residents have set up action groups and held protests against proposed developments. | Some residents have set up action groups and held protests against proposed developments. |
| Plans to create an eco-friendly town in Cheshire were dropped after angry local opposition. | Plans to create an eco-friendly town in Cheshire were dropped after angry local opposition. |
| Ms Flint said a long-list would be drawn up in the coming weeks, followed by a full public consultation. A final shortlist is to be published later in the year. | Ms Flint said a long-list would be drawn up in the coming weeks, followed by a full public consultation. A final shortlist is to be published later in the year. |
| Ms Flint said she welcomed a dialogue on the issue, but that she was none-the-less committed to meeting the housing shortage by building more homes. | Ms Flint said she welcomed a dialogue on the issue, but that she was none-the-less committed to meeting the housing shortage by building more homes. |