HOUSING minister Margaret Beckett has launched the Government's second round of formal consultation on the controversial eco-town proposals.
The announcmenet was made yesterday (Tuesday, November 4) and the consultation will run until February 19, 2009.
As part of this consultation a new website has been launched at
http://ecotownsyoursay.direct.gov.uk/Mrs Beckett said: "This consultation is not the last chance people will have to make their voices heard on eco-towns.
"But I do want to ensure that as many people as possible in the local community are aware of the proposals, are informed on the standards proposed and are aware of this opportunity to have their say."
*The shortlisted sites have now been assessed in a 'sustainability appraisal' by the DCLG and the Pennbury site got a 'grade B' meaning it 'might be suitable for an eco-town subject to meeting specific planning and design objectives'.
Only one of the 12 sites has been given an 'A' rating.
*The Government also published another document this week – The Eco-towns Planning Policy Statement which sets out green standards for new developments, including achieving zero-carbon status across all buildings in the eco-town and allocating 40 per cent of the area within the town to be green space.
The PPS also pledges that individual eco-towns will need to submit planning applications in the same way as any other major development proposal.
