Eco-town round up

China Clay Community Scheme

More of an ‘eco-zone’ than a town, this cluster of linked settlements is the brainchild of Imerys Minerals Ltd, which manages the china clay pits in the area. The towns are being built on former clay works land, and will include 5,107 homes. Around 40 to 50 per cent of these will be affordable housing.

The eco-friendly elements of this town include electric car clubs, improved bus services and cycle ‘commuter’ routes. There will also be improved road infrastructure and new schools.

There has been less local opposition to this development than with others, but the Campaign to Protect Rural England is concerned the proposals do not actually meet the government’s specifications for a stand-alone development given the fragmented nature of the site. This could, according to CPRE, make developing a good transport system very difficult.

Whitehill Bordon, Hampshire

This development was relatively popular with locals and campaigners, as it will be built almost exclusively on brownfield land. The Ministry of Defence plans to vacate the site, leaving tarmac parade grounds and barracks.

There is currently no town centre and few facilities for the existing population of 14,000, and East Hampshire District Council aims to create a ‘21^st century market town’, with fast bus links and four new schools.

Out of the 5,500 homes built, 40 per cent will be affordable. All existing homes will be retro-fitted to PassivHaus standards. As with all the eco-towns, there will be protections in place for local biodiversity.

Rackheath, Norfolk

Broadland District Council and the greater Norwich Development Partnership are proposing to build 5,150 homes, of which 40 per cent will be affordable housing.

This was the only development on the final shortlist of 11 to receive an ‘A’ rating for sustainability from the government. It includes wildlife corridors between Norwich and the Norfolk Broads, a renewable energy centre and rainwater and greywater recycling systems.

This scheme came under fire from CPRE for placing burdens on a water and sewerage system which is already at capacity. So Rackheath will also include a water body which will form part of the water strategy and a community management company which will ensure water wastage is reduced.

North-west Bicester, Oxfordshire

This town was proposed as an alternative to the Weston Otmoor eco-town, which Cherwell District Council opposed. The plans are a little less detailed than the others, but include 1,500 affordable homes out of 5,000, new schools, bio-mass planting, and sports pitches.

Locals were more positively disposed towards these proposals than the deeply unpopular Weston Otmoor development, which campaigners and councillors feared would draw jobs and investment away from Bicester.

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