Eco-town Proposal

In July 2007 the government invited expressions of interest from local authorities and the private sector in the development of Eco-towns. Eco-towns are described as small new towns of at least 5-20,000 homes designed to achieve zero carbon development and more sustainable living using the best new design and architecture.

St Modwen and the Bird Group submitted an expression of interest to the Government for the development of an Eco-town of 6000 dwellings which they are referring to as 'Middle Quinton'. The site extends to 240 hectares and includes the former Engineers Depot now owned by St Modwen and the Birds site to the south-west which is within Wychavon/Worcestershire. The submission documents which have been produced by the landowners are available to download.

• Middle Quinton - A new Eco-town Community - October 2007
• Middle Quinton - Companion Document - January 2008
• Middle Quinton - Delivering Accessibility - January 2008
• A Vision for Middle Quinton Eco-town - August 2008
  

A hard copy of the submission documents are available for inspection at Customer Services in Elizabeth House.

Consultation on shortlisted sites

The government published a short list of fifteen locations to go through to the next stage of consultation. This shortlist included the 'Middle Quinton' proposal. The government have set out four key stages in the planning process as follows:

Stage One : Three month consultation on preliminary views on eco-town benefits and the shortlisted locations; Completed. See Previous Consultation Summer 2008.

Stage Two : Further consultation on a Sustainability Appraisal and a draft Planning Policy Statement; Current consultation ends 19 February 2009. See below.

Stage Three : A decision on the list of the locations with potential to be an eco-town as part of the final Planning Policy Statement, late Spring 2009;

Stage Four: Submission of planning applications.

Stage 2 Consultation

The government has launched the second stage of the eco-towns consultation with publication of a draft Eco-Towns Planning Policy Statement (PPS) and an accompanying Sustainability Appraisal (SA). The Middle Quinton proposal remains within the shortlist of 12 locations.

The draft PPS sets green standards for new development, including achieving zero carbon status across all the buildings in the eco-town and allocating 40% of the area within the town to be green space. The PPS also states that individual eco-towns will need to submit planning applications in the same way as any other major development proposal.

The SA identifies and evaluates the likely impact of the proposals on the local economy, community and environment, and considers reasonable alternatives. This consultation will be on 12 shortlisted locations, as a result of the Sustainability Appraisals and the previous decision of some promoters to withdraw from this process. The SA includes sections on each of the shortlisted locations, and the Middle Quinton Section of the SA can be downloaded here.

This next round of consultation runs until 19 February 2009. As part of this consultation a new government website has been launched to both explain the eco-towns concept and standards, and to invite comments and ideas:

Eco-towns - Have Your Say

A letter has been received from Communities and Local Government (CLG) which confirms that the consultation period will run for 6 weeks after the outcome of the judicial review proceedings in respect of the Middle Quinton scheme.

CLG are running roadshow events in local areas close to the proposed eco-town locations to encourage awareness and responses to the consultation. Two events are taking place in the local area:

Sunday 23 November 12.00 - 17.00 - Stratford-upon-Avon Library and Information Centre, Henley Street

Monday 24 November 9.30 - 18.00 - Riverside Shopping Centre, Evesham

Further information, publications and news releases can be found on the CLG website.

Working Groups

The Council has established Joint Working Groups at both Officer and Member level.

For further information please contact the Planning Policy team on 01789 260337, by emailing planning@stratford-dc.gov.uk, or by fax on 01789 260330.

If you have any questions about the eco-town debate or if you would like to leave us your comments, please e-mail ecotown.debate@stratford-dc.gov.uk