New Eco Town proposed on the edge of the South Downs National Park
Countryside campaign group the South Downs Society today (16 July 2009) responded to the Government announcement that a handful of possible new Eco-towns were likely to go ahead, following rounds of consultation. John Healey, the Housing Minister, today announced that four sites would go through to the next planning stage, including Whitehill-Bordon on the boundary of the South Downs National Park in Hampshire, but Ford in Sussex would not be progressed.
“We have always welcomed the spirit behind eco-towns – all major developments should be built to high environmental specifications, but this initiative has been far too top-down” said Steve Ankers, Planning Officer for the South Downs Society. He continued: “We campaigned vigorously against the possibility of an eco-town at Ford, south of Arundel. The claim that it involved brownfield development was very overstated, it would have had a major impact on the Downs and would have damaged the regeneration prospects of places like Bognor and Lilltehampton. And let’s look closely at the Whitehill Bordon proposal that has been given a thumbs-up: it needs to do what it says on the tin and incorporate the highest green standards and be properly subject to normal planning procedures.”
The Society will seek reassurances that the development of Ministry of Defence land at Bordon can be carried out without damaging the adjoining South Downs National Park and sterilising valuable sand deposits, so putting more pressure on other sensitive sites.
“With government having only just confirmed the creation of the National Park, getting this right will be a key test of its environmental commitment,” said Steve Ankers.