Prototype eco-town criticised by planning authority
Cambridgeshire County Council has voiced concern over elements of the proposed Northstowe new town which is planned to be a prototype for the Government's eco-town programme.
The 9,500 new home project has been criticised by councillors as not ambitious enough in terms of sustainability and water management.
To date the council has raised more than 70 objections to the proposals being developed by Gallagher Estate with the support of English Partnerships.
Matt Bradney, the council's lead member for planning and regional matters said: "We must get Northstowe right and at present these proposals are not good enough for Cambridgeshire."
He added: "We owe it to the future generations of Cambridgeshire residents to make sure this development is as environmentally friendly as possible."
However, he stressed that the council was keen to continue working with the developers to "help get this right".
Earlier the county council criticised plans for an eco-town at Hanley Grange, also in Cambridgeshire. Councillor Hanley said there was "a real danger that this proposal could undermine the successful delivery of major developments such as Northstowe and the area around Cambridge".
In a separate but related development the Planning Officers Society has called on ministers to make sure that the individual eco-town projects have cross-party support and are brought forward via regional and sub-regional plans.
