Essex becomes latest eco-town site
A partnership of councils in Essex is to receive £200,000 to help develop proposals for new eco-town standard communities.
The Haven Gateway Partnership with Essex County Council will use the funding to identify the best locations for long-term growth. The study will look at the A120 corridor, including parts of the local authority areas of Colchester, Braintree, Tendring and Essex County Council.
Collectively, the new communities could provide around 8,000 new homes and a similar number of jobs.
The partnership’s interest in using the green standards has brought the number of local authorities and partnerships on the shortlist of potential ‘second wave’ eco-towns to 11. Other locations include Yeovil, Leeds and Cornwall.
The first four eco-town sites – in Hampshire, Norfolk, Cornwall and Oxfordshire - were announced in July. They are currently developing plans for local planning approval, with building due to start within months.
Eco-towns, which need to be made up of at least 5,000 homes, must meet high standards of sustainability. At least 30 per cent of homes, which take their energy from the sun, wind and earth, must be affordable and located within 10 minutes’ walk of frequent public transport services.
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