Flint unveils eco-town plans

The housing minister has outlined transport plans for new eco-towns, as well as announcing various requirements for affordable and sustainable housing.

On Thursday Caroline Flint set out the government's plans to achieve zero carbon status for all of an eco-town's buildings and to allocate 40 per cent of the town's land to green space.

There will be a minimum of 30 per cent affordable housing made available to first-time buyers and social rent under the proposals.

The average property will also be located within 10 minutes of public transport, while at least one person per house will be required to be able to reach their job by sustainable transport.

Declaring the proposals as incorporating "the toughest standards ever set out for new development", Flint said that for the new towns there "will be no compromise on quality with eco-towns".

Flint explained: "We need to build more homes in this country, but given that housing contributes 27 per cent of our carbon emissions we must also take this opportunity to trial new ways of tackling climate change. In both cases, doing nothing is not an option."

"With a minimum of 30 per cent affordable housing, eco-towns will provide homes for a generation who are currently facing difficulties - young families, singles and the elderly, who all deserve a good quality home," Flint said.

"The UK needs more homes because people are living longer and more people are choosing to live alone.

"Eco-towns will meet part of our housing need by creating attractive, new communities with all the facilities that people look for when choosing a place to live."

On Wednesday the government faced the prospect of a possible legal challenge from the Local Government Association on the grounds that planning laws were being by-passed to build eco-towns.