Yorkshire eco-town sites shortlisted

TWO sites in Yorkshire have been included in the Government shortlist for 15 environmentally friendly eco-towns.

The Leeds City Region, and UK Coal's plan for a former colliery site in Rossington, South Yorkshire, are among the proposed schemes chosen from 57 technologies and brownfield land – including former Ministry of Defence sites, disused airfields and industrial sites.

Eco-towns are set to include up to 15,000 homes in low-carbon developments which are intended to tackle the twin issues of climate change and affordable housing.

The successful bids will have to include between 30% and 50% affordable homes in settlements of between 5,000 and 20,000 homes, none of which are to be sited on green belt land, will have to be zero-carbon.

If given the go-ahead, the scheme in Rossington would offer up to 15,000 homes on the former colliery village of Rossington, three miles south of Doncaster, including 1,500 affordable homes.

Yorkshire-based UK Coal had launched two bids for eco-towns at Rossington and Marley Hill near Newcastle but the latter site was not shortlisted.

The Leeds City Region bid included a number of possible sites, principally between Leeds and Selby. The Government has agreed for the Leeds City Region Partnership to conduct a further study to compare the best alternative locations.

The Government received 57 proposals from local authorities and developers across the country.

Over the next six months, the 15 shortlisted schemes will be reduced to no more than 10, which will then be subject to a full planning process.