Hanley Grange councillor welcomes Marston Vale 'eco-town' pull-out (South East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats)

South East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats <info@secambslibdems.org.uk>

Hanley Grange councillor welcomes Marston Vale 'eco-town' pull-out

February 11, 2009 6:09 PM

Hanley Grange campaigners have responded positively to the news that the developers behind the Marston Vale eco-town project in Bedfordshire have pulled out of the government's eco-programme. Just like Tesco, they have decided in favour of going through the regional planning process instead of through the unpopular eco-town framework.

O&H Properties said that it will pursue planning permission for a sustainable new settlement through the review of the East of England Plan and relevant local development frameworks. Just like Tesco at Hanley Grange.

Tim Stone, Liberal Democrat County Councillor for the Hanley Grange area, comments, "It does seem that the eco-town process is now dragging its heels. Already last November the government revealed that only one of the short-listed eco-towns - Rackheath in Norfolk - was "generally suitable" under the eco-town criteria it had set."

"Marston Vale, like Hanley Grange, got a "B" rating, which meant work would have to be done to satisfy the Department for Communities and Local Government that the site was suitable."

A legal challenge to the whole eco-town process was dismissed in the High Court this January. Now the Department for Communities and Local Government has extended the period for comment on each proposed eco-town's Sustainability Appraisal until 6th March. Cambridgeshire County Council is preparing a comment on Hanley Grange and both Tim Stone and the Hanley Grange Joint Action Group of local parish councils are encouraging other people to do so.

Tim Stone adds, "Tesco have withdrawn Hanley Grange as an eco-town but have re-submitted a proposal for a 14,100 dwelling town in exactly the same place. So we need to reinforce the reasons why we don't like Hanley Grange. The Government and the East of England Regional Assembly need to be in no doubt about local opposition."