Eco-town rethink urged

A partnership of councils across Norfolk has called on the Government to rethink plans for an eco-town on the former RAF base at Coltishall.
 
The Greater Norwich Development Partnership (GNDP) is proposing an alternative new development at Rackheath, in Broadland, to the north east of Norwich.

The leaders of the councils that make up the GNDP have made their case in a letter to housing and planning minister Caroline Flint. The Rackheath option is part of a series of proposals currently being examined by technical experts. It will be put to local people in a full public consultation next year.

In response housing minister Caroline Flint said: "I very much welcome this positive proposal from these local authorities, which demonstrates how they are stepping up to meet the housing challenge in their area. We think this proposal has a lot of potential and it will now be rigorously assessed alongside the other bids to ensure only those with the highest standards make it through to the final shortlist." 

Broadland District Council leader Simon Woodbridge said: "The north east sector is an area which has been identified as an area for planned and managed growth and Rackheath is a part of this... The most important next step now is to talk to local residents about how they would like to see their community grow and develop."

Norwich City Council leader Steve Morphew commented: "Rackheath is a much better option than Coltishall for meeting the Government's eco-town objectives. It is better prepared to shoulder new infrastructure and the local landowners are ready for development. Most importantly, the plans are already going through a comprehensive, rigorous and democratic planning process, so local people will be fully involved along the way."

Norfolk County Council leader Daniel Cox said: "Rackheath is a realistic alternative to the Coltishall eco-town, but will only be made possible if Government support is forthcoming."

The proposed Rackheath development is included in proposals for new housing growth put out for technical consultation.

In a related development Communities and Local Government has published the latest comments from the independent Eco-Town Challenge Panel on the schemes on the current shortlist.

Read the notes and recommendations from session 2 of the eco-town challenge

Roger Milne

31 July 2008