Housing Minister Caroline Flint set out the Government's latest proposals for tougher green standards for new housing as she unveiled a progress report on eco-towns.
Underlining a determination that only the best quality schemes with very high sustainability standards should qualify for eco-town status, the standards being developed are set to include:
The progress report also clarifies how the planning process for eco-towns will work, making it clear that in each case a planning application will have to be submitted and that it will be for the local authority to consider that application. The eco-towns standards will also insist that proposed developments must comply with existing planning policy.
Following changes made to the shortlisted schemes announced in April, including two new proposals for an eco-town in Rushcliffe and major changes made to the proposal at Rossington, a formal consultation on both these draft standards and a detailed sustainability appraisal of each location will be published in September.
A final decision on up to ten potential locations will be made in early 2009, after which the individual schemes will each have to submit planning applications.
Eco-towns - Living A Greener Future: Progress Report
is available at: www.communities.gov.uk/ecotowns.Information Note
The thirteen shortlisted locations for eco-towns are: Pennbury, Leicestershire; Middle Quinton, Warwickshire; Bordon-Whitehill, Hampshire; Weston Otmoor, Oxfordshire; Ford, West Sussex; St Austell China Clay Community, Cornwall; Rossington, South Yorkshire; Hanley Grange, Cambridgeshire; Marston Vale, Bedfordshire; North East Elsenham, Essex; Greater Norwich; Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire; and Leeds City Region, Yorkshire.
The Housing Corporation's Chief Executive, Steve Douglas, launched an initiative to encourage housing association to take up a new scheme aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of over two million households.
Steve Douglas sent 500 letters to housing association chiefs, explaining how housing association households could benefit from the scheme, spearheaded by EDF Energy, eaga and the Housing Corporation, which will see eight million Osram energy-efficient light bulbs delivered directly to their households.
Letters will be sent to all remaining associations in the coming weeks, while light bulbs will be delivered directly to households over a 12-month period, from 1 September 2008.
Energy efficient light bulbs have an estimated lifespan of 10,000 hours - ten times longer than traditional bulbs - and are expected to save 1.14 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over a ten-year period, enough to fill over 230,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
The project is being funded as part of the energy industry's Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT). By focusing on housing association households, it ensures that funding reaches CERT's priority groups of lower income and older households.
Housing associations can call 01706 239053 for further information about the energy-efficient light bulb offer.
