Local authorities respond to consultation on 'Middle Quinton'

ECO-TOWNS – SECOND STAGE CONSULTATON

RESPONSE TO THE DRAFT PLANNING POLICY STATEMENT AND ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS

The six local authorities directly affected by the Middle Quinton proposal have prepared a Joint Response to the second stage consultation. This response has been endorsed by the District Council and submitted to Communities and Local Government for consideration. Notwithstanding the additional information that has been produced as part of the second stage consultation, the Councils remain opposed to this proposal.

The key elements of the joint response are summarised below:

Because of their strategic significance the PPS should include a clear statement that eco-towns would only be acceptable where they have been considered within and supported by the development plan process.

Changes are sought to the proposed locational principles set out in the draft PPS which would enable the consideration of smaller eco-communities within or adjacent to existing urban areas.

Detailed comments are provided on the proposed Eco-town standards set out in the draft PPS seeking clearer, more robust standards and the use of performance phasing to ensure compliance with the standards.

The remote rural location of the Middle Quinton site, where accessibility is constrained by physical features such as the River Avon and the Cotswolds AONB, is such that it cannot be considered to be a sustainable location for the development of an Eco-town. Detailed comments are made on the Sustainability Appraisal (SA) for the Middle Quinton proposal. These conclude that the weaknesses of the location are such that the SA should have rejected the Middle Quinton location outright.

Should the proposal proceed, contrary to the strong objections of the local authorities, then the provision of sustainable transport links and the impact of the proposal on the local road network will be critical. This requires a much more thorough assessment than the Strategic Transport Assessment undertaken to date, and the proposal would need to deliver a step change in the provision and utilisation of all forms of public transport in the local area.

The independent viability assessment commissioned by the local authorities concludes that the development is not viable with a deficit of £373 million. Substantial public subsidy would be required to support the development. Such public expenditure would be better directed to sustainable urban locations where needs can be matched with opportunities and existing infrastructure can be utilised more effectively.

Click to read the full response

Read the letter written by the joint local authrorities to Margaret Beckett, the Housing Minister, urging her to reject the Middle Quinton proposal - click on the link in the related media box on the right hand side.