Cornwall

Eco-town plans fail to comply with EU rules

From an Article in The Daily Telegraph on Saturday, January 10^th, 2009

The following article was written by Louise Gray, the Telegraph's Environment Correspondent, and it appeared on page 14 of last Saturday's edition.

Plans for eco-towns could be thrown out under European law, according to a damning report that describes government strategy on the troubled project as "exceptionally poor".

William Sheate, an expert in environmental assessment and an adviser to the European Commission, was commissioned by Bard, a group campaigning against the eco-town plans, to look at the draft plans for the 15 short-listed sites.

Up to 10 of the developments, which are designed to be environmentally-friendly, will get the go-ahead.  But Mr Sheate said the strategic environmental assessment, which is part of the planning process, fails to comply with European rules.  He said this was because not enough alternatives were considered, nor how the eco-towns would be developed.

He said many of the arguments in the strategy were illogical.  For example, the Government's "zero-carbon" claim for eco-towns excludes any carbon dioxide produced by the expected increase in transport.

Mr Sheate said the environmental assessment as it currently stands is "exceptionally poor".

The report comes after criticism of eco-towns by environmental groups and planning authorities.

Margaret Beckett, the housing minister, is due to make a decision on the final shortlist later this year.  A spokesman for the Department of Communities and Local Government insisted the Government had acted correctly throughout the process.

Editorial Comment from CPRE Cornwall

This is good news, perhaps, for the proposal to build an eco-town near St Austell.  Has the Government, in its rush to meet targets on carbon emissions and at the same time solve the apparent housing crisis, been too eager to fully consider or reveal the dangers that would be caused to the environment by such "eco-development"?

Ted Venn

11^th January 2009

HIGHER STANDARDS FOR ECO TOWNS - A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

CPRE has welcomed the publication today (Thursday, July 24th) of two reports setting out the Government's latest thinking on eco-towns. They describe standards eco-towns should achieve, the planning process and timetable ^[1].

Kate Gordon CPRE's senior planner said:

‘The signs are that the Government is starting to listen to people's concerns about eco-towns.  We are delighted that the Government has decided to delay publishing a Planning Policy Statement on eco-towns until September and to consult stakeholders about what it should contain in the meantime. Ultimately, we would prefer a statement explaining how statutory planning procedures should be followed, rather than yet another PPS.' 

‘We welcome some of the standards announced today, such as a minimum of one job provided per house and locating homes within ten minutes walk of services. Some standards need to be made more challenging. For example:

• if transport plans are to reflect the very best European examples they should aim for significantly less than 50% of trips by car;
• homes should achieve Sustainable Code Level Six, rather than Four ^[2], given that Level Six will be mandatory for all new development by 2016;
• a measure of zero carbon should apply to the whole settlement, covering transport as well as buildings.'

CPRE remains concerned, however, about the planning process for agreeing where eco-towns are built.  It is calling on the Government to ensure that decisions on eco-towns do not ride roughshod over normal planning procedures.  

Kate Gordon concluded:

‘Many people are rightly concerned about a programme that has been pursued outside the planning system ^[3].  Local and regional plans enable proposals to be tested in the light of their effects on the environment and local communities who agree where and how development should take place. The Government should make it clear how these arrangements will be safeguarded.'

NOTES

1    Eco-towns living a greener future: progress report and Eco-towns: Sustainability appraisal - Scoping report for the Planning Policy Statement on Eco-towns, published by Communities and Local Government are available from:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/publications/all/

2    The Code measures the sustainability of a new home against categories of sustainable design, rating the ‘whole home' as a complete package.  The Code uses a 1 to 6 star rating system to measure the sustainability performance of a new home.  The Code sets minimum standards for energy and water use at each level and, within England, replaces the EcoHomes scheme, developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE). On the 27 February 2008 the Government announced a mandatory rating against the Code would be required for new homes from 1 May 2008.  Further information is available from:

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/1115314116927.html

3    A legal opinion by counsel for the Local Government Association casts doubt on the legality of the eco-towns process and suggests grounds on which a legal challenge may be made. Key concerns raised in the opinion are the conflict between identifying and promoting specific eco-towns in a Planning Policy Statement and the plan led-process and questions over whether the Government's approach will fulfil requirements for Strategic Environmental Assessment under the EU Directive. CPRE shares the LGA's concerns.