The locations of four new eco-towns have been announced today, Thursday 16 July with the Government publishing the Planning Policy Statement: Eco-towns, as a supplement to PPS 1 Delivering Sustainable Developments.
The locations which have been assessed as having the potential for an eco-town are:
- Whitehill-Bordon - Hampshire
- St Austell (China Clay Communities) Cornwall
- Rackheath Norfolk
- North West Bicester - Oxfordshire
This current list does not include the Middle Quinton proposal in Warwickshire/Worcestershire, and a number of people have assumed that because of its exclusion at this stage the proposal has been rejected. The simple fact is that no decision has been taken on the Middle Quinton proposal by Government.
The Middle Quinton proposal is being considered by the independent panel who conducted the public examination into the revision of the Regional Spatial Strategy*. The Government assured the participants at the examination that no decision would be taken on Middle Quinton until the Secretary of State had considered the panel report.
The Location Decision Statement published by the Government today confirms this assurance and states the following in respect of Middle Quinton: '......no decision on this location will be made until after receipt of the report of the Examination Panel currently reviewing the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy.'
The report of the Examination Panel is expected to be submitted to the Secretary of State by the end of September, and it is still possible that Middle Quinton could be chosen as a potential eco-town location after that date.
Paul Lankester, Chief Executive explained: "It is important that local people understand that the scheme at Middle Quinton is still being considered. Just because it is not in today's announcement does not remove the possibility of development."
*Regional Spatial Strategy sets out policies to ensure that physical development in the region will deliver renaissance for both urban and rural communities in the West Midlands. The West Midlands Regional Assembly (as the Regional Planning Body) is responsible for developing and co-ordinating a strategic vision for improving the quality of life in the region.
A regional examination was conducted in May/June and the panel report will be published in September, which will influence the Government's decision on Middle Quinton.
