Eco-town designs 'improved' but still suffer transport issues

The government’s eco-town advisory panel says developers have improved their designs for the settlements but are still struggling with transport issues.

In a progress report on the 13 eco-towns, Bordon Whitehall was strongly praised by the 15-member panel as “the right way to go about building an eco-town”.

While Rossington was commended for its plans to build a construction skills centre to train locals in how to build eco-friendly homes.

Developers UK Coal wrote in the report: “This re-skilling will facilitate the delivery of the required standard of new housing.

“Dialogue has begun with organisations and agencies that can help deliver both the necessary training as well as assist in the establishment of new, on site manufacturing facilities utilising modern methods of construction.”

 
The panel report was released today and requests more improvements to the transport and employment strategies of most of the proposed towns.

Panel chairman John Walker said: “Many of the proposals have shown significant and encouraging progress during those few weeks.

“In all cases, the panel made suggestions about where it believes further progress is most needed, and has encouraged the direction in which much of the work is going.”

Only 13 of the 15 shortlisted eco-towns remain. A final shortlist of 10 locations is expected by the end of the year.