ITEM CA7
CABINET – 24 JUNE 2008
“ECO-TOWNS - LIVING A GREENER FUTURE”: CONSULTATION BY DEPARTMENT FOR COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, APRIL 2008
Report by Head of Sustainable Development
Introduction
1. The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) is consulting on proposals for eco-towns. The consultation document “Eco-Towns – Living a Greener Future” sets out how the government is taking forward the eco-towns programme (the document can be viewed at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/ecotownsgreenerfuture
2. The document includes a shortlist
of locations going forward for more detailed assessment, one of which is the
“Weston Otmoor” proposal in Cherwell. The document seeks views on the way in
which the eco-town concept is being developed and the different potential
benefits that an eco-town could offer; and preliminary views on the 15
locations going forward for further assessment. This report, which includes a
joint report prepared with officers from Cherwell District Council (Annex 1) (download as .doc file),
recommends a proposed response.
Eco-Towns – Living a Greener Future
The Eco- towns process
3. The key stages in the process are:
· The Government is seeking preliminary views on the eco-towns process and proposals by 30 June.
· A detailed assessment of the locations through to September. This will include a sustainability appraisal, which the government expect to publish in the summer together with a draft planning policy statement. The policy statement when finalised will set out the core principles and criteria for eco-towns as well as a refined list of potential locations. The DCLG are leading the assessment work through a joint technical group (involving Oxfordshire and Cherwell officers) and governance group (involving lead members and officers).
· An Eco-Town Challenge Panel to provide expert advice to bidders on their proposal has been appointed by Government to help maximise the potential in each location.
· The following studies will be undertaken as standard for all eco-towns - to ensure a common framework as far as possible:
- Sustainability Appraisal (SA) (DCLG funded, using nationally appointed consultancy for all sites); - Economic and Financial Assessment (DCLG funded, using nationally appointed consultancy for all sites); - Transport Assessment (Developer funded, with OCC providing a lead on the specification for the TA and its commissioning with the Highways Agency’s input); and - Green Challenge report via the Eco-Towns Challenge Panel that would aim to test and improve the environmental offer.
· A further study requested by Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) and Cherwell District Council (CDC) will be undertaken for Weston Otmoor (DCLG funded with commissioning by the South East England Development Agency [SEEDA] and with input from OCC and CDC to the project brief): Economic and social impacts on the future of nearby settlements, particularly on planned development and investment in Bicester.
· Publication later in 2008 of the Planning Policy Statement on eco-towns which will include the final list of locations (up to 10 locations) with potential to be an eco-town. The policy statement will be unique in listing locations and will create a framework for consideration of eco-town applications.
· Consideration of planning applications for individual schemes.
Weston Otmoor
4. The site adjoins the M40 motorway and Oxford - Bicester railway about 3 miles southwest of Bicester and 7 miles from Oxford (see attached plan). The total area is over 800 hectares, of which about 130 are currently in use as a grass airstrip. The proposed development area extends into the Oxford Green Belt (approximately 30%) and the vast majority of the site is farmland.
5. The eco-town proposal is for 10,000 -15,000 homes. The proposal is based on a major package of rail investment between Oxford and Milton Keynes; a major park and ride facility and parkway station; improvements to the A34/M40 junction; and stringent controls on car access to and from the site. The consultation document also suggests the scheme would deliver between 3000 and 5000 affordable homes.
Comments of Head of Sustainable Development
6. The consultation document sets out how the government is taking forward the eco-towns programme, including the shortlist of locations going forward for more detailed assessment. Detailed comments on the eco-town programme and Weston Otmoor are in the joint report prepared by Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Council officers attached at Annex 1. The report highlights a range of concerns about both the process and the specific proposal and in particular:
(a) Concern about the proposed Planning Policy Statement and how eco-town proposals may be handled through the planning process to effectively by-pass the development plan system.
(b) We are not convinced that the Government has put forward an effective planning and delivery mechanism for a national programme of new settlement construction.
(c) The Weston Otmoor proposal has not been supported by the strategic sub-regional planning process; is without local planning authority support; and without any apparent consideration of the policy context provided by the emerging South East Plan.
(d) Government policy emphasises the protection of green belt and the use of previously developed land. Development of this sort is inappropriate in the Green Belt and would not normally be permitted.
(e) The site is adjacent to a strategic road network (A34 and M40). However, the A34/M40 junction is already severely congested and the Highways Agency has expressed serious concerns in relation to future capacity. Significant improvements would be required. Although the proposal is expressing the intention to provide a settlement where public transport is a priority and sustainable travel patterns are promoted; its location adjacent to the intersection of two major routes could create/maintain high levels of demand for car based journeys.
(f) An important issue is how Weston Otmoor would fit into the settlement pattern and hierarchy of the Central Oxfordshire Sub Region and in particular how it might impact on the existing and planned development at Bicester. The assessment of the economic and social impact of the proposal on Bicester that was requested by the local authorities is particularly important.
(g) The key issue around the transport offer is whether it is deliverable, not just in terms of funding but also in terms of practicality, timing, management and enforcement. A large number of detailed questions have been asked of the promoters around these issues.
(h) The overall transport infrastructure budget (£250m) appears to be very significantly short of the funds likely to be required to deliver the full transport offer proposed.
(i) The claims made by the promoters for the “eco-credentials” of their scheme in transport terms seem aspirational in the extreme. There is very little in the proposal on other elements of an “Eco” offer, namely carbon, waste, energy, water, eco-build homes etc. other than a passing reference to “innovation”.
(j) Other aspects of the scheme, particularly the housing and employment proposed are very embryonic in detail and it is not clear how the affordable housing will be delivered in the context of the other infrastructure requirements.
Financial and Staff Implications
7. The proposed eco-town is having a considerable impact on staff resources and time. The assessment studies are however being funded by CLG and/or the bidders for the proposed eco-town. It is also possible that CLG will accept bids for additional help with funding staff resources to help the assessment work and this is being pursued with CLG. In the long term, if the Weston Otmoor proposal is included in the final list of proposals it could have major implications for staff, financial resources and service provision.
RECOMMENDATION
8. The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:
(a) respond to the Department for Communities and Local Government that Oxfordshire County Council:
(i) has major concerns about the way in which the eco-towns concept is being developed for the reasons set out in paragraph 6 above and in Annex 1; and in particular that proposals may be taken forward which override the regional and local planning framework; and
(ii) endorses the comments on the “Weston Otmoor” proposal in paragraph 6 and in Annex 1; and that on the information available would object strongly to the inclusion of the “Weston Otmoor” eco-town proposal in the final list of eco-towns locations, in particular on the grounds that:
(a) the proposal is likely to be contrary to the policies in the emerging South East Plan;
(b) the proposal could have a significantly detrimental impact on the implementation of planned development of Bicester and the promotion of Bicester as a major employment location in northern Central Oxfordshire;
(c) the Council is unconvinced about the deliverability of the major infrastructure package that underpins the eco-town proposal; and
(d) there is a lack of clarity about the overall eco credentials of the “Weston Otmoor” proposal.
(b) agree to delegate to the Head of Sustainable Development, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, finalisation of the joint report with Cherwell District Council and the submission of additional supporting information to meet the Government’s deadline of 30 June 2008.
CHRIS COUSINS Head of Sustainable Development Environment & Economy
Background papers: Nil
Contact Officer: Ian Walker, Community and Spatial Strategy Manager, Tel: (01865) 815588
June 2008
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