Eco-town protest grows

Local campaigners protest against plans in Long Marston, Warwickshire. Picture: Newsteam

• Increase image
• View all images

Councils fighting plans for eco-towns have called an emergency summit to co-ordinate a potential legal challenge amid strong concern that developments will bypass the planning process.

Arun DC has already instructed a barrister as part of a legal challenge against one of the towns devised by the government in response to the housing shortage.

Councils and residents have claimed they are being kept in the dark over the decision-making process, which has so far resulted in 15 sites being shortlisted, many bitterly opposed locally.  

Responding to the crisis, the Local Government Association has invited affected councils to a meeting, expected to take place in the next four weeks.

An LGA spokesman said: "You cannot make a legal challenge against a consultation, but we would certainly want to consider the legality and discuss all the options at our disposal."

Ministers are still consulting on the final 10 sites to be selected, but judicial review could become a possibility after a decision is made by the end of the year.

Leicestershire CC councillor Kevin Feltham (Con), who chairs the cross-party group against the Stoughton eco-town, said the meeting would consider the legality of the process. "We will also be looking at opportunities for joint action," he added.

LGC understands that there is also conflict in the Department for Communities & Local Government, with planning and housing officials sending out different signals.

Harborough councillor Simon Galton (Lib Dem), also a Stoughton campaigner, said that while the DCLG's planning team advised councils to "test" eco-town proposals against local development frameworks, the housing team was determined to override local opposition.

"[They] said sites on the list would only be changed if there was a major issue such as nuclear waste," he said.

Councils have also claimed they have been warned by parts of the DCLG not to speak out against proposals because it would impair their ability to rule on subsequent applications.

John Reynolds (Con), Cambridgeshire CC cabinet member for corporate services, said: "If the DCLG had set out a proper consultation process, there would be no need for this, but they have ridden rough shod over local people."

A DCLG spokesman denied the planning process would be by passed. He added: "We have been in discussions with all relevant local authorities on eco-towns and will continue to clarify any questions they raise."