FMB proposes 'eco-fication' in opposition to eco-towns

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has proposed a patchwork of towns across England be eco-fied as an alternative to the government’s eco-town plans.

New energy-efficient homes would be built in existing communities, old buildings refurbished and a range of proven green technologies be introduced.

Build contracts for the towns would be awarded by local authorities in an effort to keep work in the community, the FMB proposal suggests.

FMB director of external affairs Brian Berry said eco-towns were “misguided” and discriminated against small building firms.

He said: “Handing out massive contracts like this not only discriminates against all the smaller, more innovative, green construction building companies springing up around the country, but also leaves open the possibility of bad decisions multiplied on a grand scale.

“Meaning, things go wrong in a big way too.

“The answer to creating green settlements is to create a national patchwork of smaller eco-projects, with contracts awarded by local regions and communities.”

The government hopes to build up to 10 eco-towns by 2020 and will announce a shortlist of sites where they will be built later this year.

The first round of consultation on the government’s proposal finished today and was to be marked by a demonstration at parliament by protestors.

The second phase of consultation will involve a series of roadshows at the shortlisted sites, another three months of public consultation, a sustainability assessment on the potential locations and a draft planning policy statement.

The third stage in autumn will see the publication of the final shortlist of locations with the potential to be an eco-town.

The final stage will be the consideration of planning applications by local authorities.