Joint response from Sustrans, Campaign for Better Transport, Friends of the Earth England and Carfree UK to the consultation paper Eco-towns - Living a Greener Future

• The transport CLG/TCPA Transport Worksheet sets out at ambitious vision for sustainable transport, which should be achieveable under the right circumstances.


• This vision will not be achieveable in the locations short-listed through the eco-towns process. Small satellite towns, and extensions to exisiting medium-sized towns, are likely to be characterised by high car ownership and use.


• Car ownership is a key determinant of car use. Around 10% of the adult population lives without a car by choice. Research suggests others would be prepared to, under the right circumstances. In current circumstamces, to enable substantial proportions of their new residents to live without a car, eco-towns must be either:
  • Integrated towns, functioning as part of a larger conurbation, or:
  • Self-sufficient towns, which are large enough to provide for the great majority of their resident's needs
  
  
• Direct access to the rail network is an advantage for integrated towns and essential for self sufficient towns. Outside large conurbations, few residents will choose to live without a car if buses provide their only links to the rail network.


• The process has failed to produce a shortlist of sustainable locations because:
  • the original prospectus implied a preference for satellite towns
  • 'previsouly developed land' and greenbelf policies (sound principles in themselves) have been applied with little consideration for sustainability
  • it relied on bids based on existing landholdings
  
  
• The current circumstances of a slowing housing market and rising oil prices presents an opportunity to reconsider the objective of the programme. We reccomend that:
  • The nine sites identified as unsuitable on appendix 1 be rejected.
  • The remaining schemes be re-assessed with respect to resilience to rising oil prices, and acces to the rail network
  • Proposals should only proceed if they can be served by rail or light rail and avoid expanding the capacity of the trunk road network
  • A new search should be undertaken for more sustainable sites. These may be integrated sites identified through the normal planning process or (if necessary) a national searhc for a larger self-sufficient eco-town
  
  
• CLG should apply the eco-town principles to a new programme of eco quarters on redevelopment sites within existing towns and cities.

Read the full joint response