Lord Rogers slams 'unsustainable' eco-towns

Eco-towns have been branded a big mistake by government advisor and award-winning architect Lord Rogers of Riverside.

Lord Rogers criticised the plans for encroaching on green belt land and being unsustainable at a conference at The Building Centre in London.

He said: “I think eco-towns are one of the biggest mistakes the government can make.

“They are in no way environmentally sustainable.”

The government plans to build up to 10 eco-towns around England and a panel is currently trying to cull a shortlist of 15 proposed sites.

Lord Rogers said urban regeneration were a better alternative to the new environmentally-friendly towns, which have been criticised for increasing road congestion, reports the Daily Telegraph.