CPRE South East
Campaigning to Protect the South East's Countryside
CPRE South East Press Release: 16 July 2009
The Campaign to Protect Rural England's South East Regional Director today gave a broad welcome to Ministers' decision to shortlist Whitehill Bordon and not pursue an eco town at Ford in West Sussex. Although opposed to the earlier proposed scheme at Weston Otmoor, Oxfordshire, CPRE recognises the positive benefits of an urban extension at Bicester that could outweigh the loss of Greenfield land.
Bordon Camp, East Hampshire
Edward Dawson said: "Development at Whitehill Bordon has long been considered, and obviously something needs to happen when the army moves out. The South East Plan Examination Panel was told that the entire site would become available from 2009. The whole site as described in the South East Plan covers around 300ha, with a potential housing supply of up to 8,000. However, Whitehill Bordon is surrounded by environmentally important countryside. Great care will need to be taken in the design and layout of the town to address local concerns. The panel recommended that Bordon could accommodate some 2,500 houses, and more if necessary. In view of this, and extensive debates locally, CPRE believes that it is possible to give this site a positive recommendation in principle as an eco town."
Bicester, Oxfordshire
Edward Dawson commented: "We are very pleased that Weston Otmoor has been firmly rejected. The 5,000 home urban extension alternative put forward for North West Bicester has potential as an eco-development and support from the local authority. Although we are concerned at the loss of any Greenfield land, we recognise the need for regeneration in the area and see positive benefits for the town. We all need to study the detail of the Planning Policy Statement (PPS) closely. Any development would have to be built to the highest environmental standards."
Ford Airfield, West Sussex
Edward Dawson reacted: "CPRE is pleased that the Government has dropped Ford as an eco town. We did not support the proposal at Ford, because it is good quality agricultural land, a largely greenfield site, a rural location and valuable 'green wedge' link between the South Downs National Park and the coast."
Edward continued: We are pleased that the government wishes to adopt an eco-friendly approach to development, but for this to be realised in practice, decisions must be supported by communities and follow normal planning guidelines, not ride over them. CPRE supports many of the principles for eco towns. Achieving high standards of energy use, including low carbon energy sources and improved water efficiency will benefit communities and help address the challenge of climate change. Genuinely sustainable transport options, affordable housing, better services, employment opportunities and green infrastructure, as well as high standards of design and liveability, should become the norm in all new development. We do not support the criterion that says eco towns must be freestanding new settlements and we have urged the Government to pursue more sustainable alternatives such as redeveloping within or extending existing towns.
"We have been concerned by the way some eco town proposals have been brought forward. A co-operative process with an early involvement of stakeholders will be crucial for eco town aspirations to become a reality as will a thorough assessment of alternative ways of meeting housing need, such as through redeveloping brownfield sites and bringing empty buildings into use."
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