Councils unhappy with eco-town plans

Council representatives have expressed concern about the government's plans to approve the creation of ten eco-towns.

A legal statement from the Local Government Association says the approach to eco-towns taken by the government is "deeply flawed".

It comes as the Department for Communities and Local Government prepares to publish a planning policy statement outlining guidance on how the eco-towns should be constructed.

The government announced the first 15 locations shortlisted to become eco-towns in April this year. From these the final ten locations are expected to be confirmed by the time parliament returns from its long summer recess in October.

Critics had argued the proposed eco-towns in fact threatened the environment, being built on greenbelt land, posing a risk to wildlife or overturning previous planning decisions.