Sue questions the government's eco towns

4.55.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 7th Apr 2008

The 15 locations shortlisted for 'eco-town' status have been revealed by the Government but Sue Doughty and the Liberal Democrats point out that only 7% of the three million new houses planned for 2020 will be eco-friendly. Commenting, Sue said, "This sprinkling of green buzzwords is a drop in the ocean and just serves to highlight Labour's complete lack of serious commitment to combating climate change.

"Housing is always going to be a difficult issue considering the vast number of new homes that are going to be built and in principle, I think the concept's good if it genuinely advances sustainable living. However, we need to remember that all new housing should be built to the highest environmental standards in all developments anyway and not just in 'eco-towns'.

"Whatever happens, it's absolutely essential that people have a real say over important planning issues that will affect their communities".

Sue adds, "We should be concentrating on the low environmental standards of existing housing now. New housing is actually a small percentage of the UK's total housing stock and so one of the main challenges is actually dealing with what we have already and improving the quality of existing housing.

"I am concerned that instead of truly sustainable communities, the government is just pushing forward a programme of large housing growth with just a tinge of green. Gordon Brown apparently sees eco-towns as a way to balance increased house building with the needs of the environment but it doesn't seem very balanced to me. If this were really the case, why is it only 7% of the new houses to be built by 2020 will be eco-friendly?"