The High Court has in late January 2009 rejected a challenge to the Government’s eco-towns programme on the grounds the public had not been properly consulted. The challenge, made by number of pressure groups fighting individual eco-town proposals, was spearheaded by the Better Accessible Responsible Development (BARD) group which is opposing plans for the Middle Quinton eco-town 10 miles south of Stratford-upon-Avon.
Mr Justice Walker, sitting at the High Court in London, stressed that the project was “at a relatively early stage” and there would be future opportunities for consultation.
He ruled the Government had not followed unlawful procedures or attempted to “outflank” the planning system. He also rejected accusations that it had proceeded with “a closed mind”.
David Bliss, chairman of the BARD campaign, said after the ruling: “We are disappointed but this is by no means the end of the road for BARD’s challenges to the Middle Quinton proposal. No less than 47 national, regional and local representative bodies agree that poorly-sited new towns will neither meet their promised eco-agenda nor provide affordable housing in places where people want to live.”
Housing and planning minister Margaret Beckett said: “Eco-towns are a unique opportunity to deliver much-needed affordable housing, built in a way which, by incorporating the very latest energy saving techniques, benefits both residents and the wider community. I am pleased the judge has recognised the Government has acted properly and dismissed the review on all grounds.”
Gideon Amos OBE, Chief Executive of leading planning and environmental charity the TCPA, said: “It remains absolutely right that as a society we should plan and deliver exemplar developments - such as Eco-towns. The Eco-towns programme should be limited to a small number of exemplar developments, so that most decisions continue to come forward through local authority led development plans - a process which can take as long as ten to 15 years.”
We at whatgreenhome.com believe that the High Court rejection was vital in the context of the bigger global warming picture, and Britain’s legally binding commitment to reduce CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050 against 1990 levels. Furthermore, an open consultation process ‘ecotownsyoursay’ has been introduced, which will be followed by the usual local planning applications, giving detractors several opportunities to voice their concerns.
