'Eco-towns' will fall victim to economics

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It appears, at first glance, to be a classic display of nimbyism. Protesters gathered outside Parliament yesterday to voice their opposition to the Government’s plans for a string of new “eco-towns” across England.

Surely, it is pure selfishness to object to much-needed new homes (we are told we have to build three million over the next 12 years), especially when they are going to be that magically disarming colour, “green”. In fact, the demonstrators deserve our thanks for exposing the Government’s true motives. Eco-towns do not presage some green revolution that will change the way we think about living within our environmental means. They are glorified new towns to be planted by central government diktat in pleasant rural settings (because that is where the developers want them) with a lick of green paint slapped on to try to win over a sceptical public. It will come as no surprise that the Government thinks the development of these artificial towns will be so popular with existing communities in the affected areas that almost all the shortlisted sites are in Tory-held constituencies.

Those communities have got wise to what is going on. The Council for the Protection of Rural England rightly observes that there is a “worrying lack of evidence” that the new towns will be developed to the highest environmental standards. Ministers have certainly failed to make a convincing case that they signal a revolution in house building. The CPRE argues that instead of 10 “sub-standard” towns, one or two “truly exemplary” schemes should be approved, which would act as a genuine testbed for carbon neutral living. Such an approach makes sense. Regrettably, ministers have other ideas.

They plan a series of “road shows” to try to “sell” the eco-town idea. More worryingly, opponents fear the Government will use its draconian new planning laws, designed to ease the passage of major strategic projects such as nuclear power stations and transport infrastructure, to steamroller the proposals through. For speed is of the essence. The Conservatives have already indicated they will scrap the eco-town policy if they form the next government. It means there is less than two years to win planning approval and put the infrastructure in place. And that is predicated on the willingness of developers to proceed. With the bottom dropping out of the housing market, are builders really going to commit to these new towns, no matter how fetching the locations, particularly when there is every chance that the next government will pull the plug on the whole thing? It seems unlikely.

"Telegraph view" is written by our team of leader writers and commentators. This team includes David Hughes, Philip Johnston, Simon Heffer, Janet Daley, Con Coughlin, Robert Colvile, Iain Martin and Alex Singleton. Read the article in The Telegraph here .