Labour in the South East has welcomed news that greener living will become a reality in five years’ time when the region has two of Britain’s first eco-towns - in North West Bicester, Oxfordshire and Whitehill-Bordon, Hampshire.

Jane Edbrooke, Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate for East Hampshire said, "This is fantastic news for local employment. The site will generate new jobs for people living in the Whitehill-Borden eco-town. These jobs will reflect the greener lifestyle of the new towns with people needed to manage and maintain green space, maintenance and support for electric cars and jobs created when new primary schools, children’s centres and a secondary school are built to support the local community."

Cllr Les Sibley, Labour district and town councillor for Bicester West, said “I welcome the investment this will deliver for Bicester. It is fantastic news for local job creation. An eco-town with a population of 5,000 could support 12,000-20,000 construction jobs and provide a boost to the local economy.

Because Bicester is one of the fastest growing areas of the UK, I have also been calling for a new community hospital to be provided at the heart of this project with in-patient beds and associated health care provision.”

Labour’s Housing Minister, John Healey, gave the go ahead for four new eco-towns across the UK today including Whitehill-Bordon. The four new sites have passed the Government’s tough standards to go through to the next planning phase, full public consultation and local planning approval.

Alongside the plans for eco-towns, Mr Healey announced tougher new energy standards for all new homes from 2016 to be zero carbon and launched a review to combine the Government’s climate change and renewable energy planning policy statements.

With more than a quarter of Britain’s carbon emissions produced from homes, the announcements are a major step towards meeting the Government’s green policy pledges and Britain’s transition to a low carbon country.

The successful eco-town sites will pioneer innovative design and infrastructure for greener living. They are Whitehill-Bordon in Hampshire, St Austell (China Clay) in Cornwall, Rackheath in Norfolk and North West Bicester in Oxfordshire. These sites have met the Government’s tough standards during two years of thorough assessment.

Mr Healey announced that developers in the four successful locations will be able to bid for a share of £60m to support local infrastructure. He said he wanted to see at least six second wave areas and is making up to £5m available for councils to conduct further planning work on proposals.
Eco-towns will include:

•    the toughest standards for sustainability, with smart meters to track energy use, community heat sources and charging points for electric cars;

•    smart, efficient, affordable homes taking their energy from the sun, wind and earth. Residents will be able to control the heat and ventilation of their homes at the touch of a button; and sell their surplus energy into the grid.

•    all homes located within ten minutes’ walk of frequent public transport and everyday neighbourhood services;

•    parks, playgrounds and gardens that will make up 40% – two fifths – of the towns. Children will attend local zero carbon schools, making use of the paths and cycle ways;

•    zero carbon buildings including shops, restaurants and public buildings. Car journeys will make up less than half of all journeys. And all the homes will reach at least level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes – including standards for energy efficiency, recycling, water efficiency and reduced pollution – saving a typical home £200-500 a year in energy bills.

The Prime Minister Gordon Brown said:
"The revolutionary concept of eco towns is a unique opportunity for us to confront two of the most urgent priorities as we embark on Building Britain’s Future.

“Eco-towns will help to relieve the shortage of affordable homes to rent and buy and to minimise the effects of climate change on a major scale. They will provide modern homes with lower energy bills, energy efficient offices and brand new schools, community centres and services.

“I am delighted that Whitehill-Bordon, St Austell, Rackheath and North West Bicester have all been chosen to be pioneers for these new green communities and I hope people will seize the opportunity to be at the forefront of Britain’s green revolution."

Labour’s Housing Minister John Healey said:
“If Britain is going to be successful and safe from climate change in the future, we have to change the way we live now. More than a quarter of carbon emissions come from houses, so we are not only making improvements now, we are establishing pioneering places that in ten years’ time will set the standard for every new town and community.

“We are leading the way on the world stage with these developments by radically rethinking how we design, plan and build our homes we can create zero carbon developments, which combine affordable housing with new green infrastructures and a higher quality of life.

“I recognise that the proposals can raise strong opinions, but climate change threatens us all and with our commitment to the eco-towns we are taking steps to meet this challenge and help build more affordable housing.

“We said we wanted to see up to ten eco-towns by 2020. Despite the recession I am giving the green light today to the first four pioneering proposals and making the offer to work with and help fund six more. The standards are high but I am confident of wider interest from developers and councils.  

“One in three of Britain’s homes in 2050 will be built between now and then, so we have to set clear, green standards for the future. I am confirming that all new homes from 2016 will have to meet a tough zero carbon standard, so they are cleaner, greener and cheaper to run. I’m publishing details of how designers and developers will have to meet this zero carbon commitment and we will work closely with the industry on the innovative building techniques and technologies required for the future. “

Rossington near Doncaster and North-East Elsenham in Essex are still developing proposals for their sites and these could draw on the £5m second wave funding and wider government support available. Across the country interest is still high and many local authorities are considering development plans.

For further information visit www.communities.gov.uk/ecotowns