Date: 27 October 2007 15:16

PRIME MINISTER'S U-TURN FOR A GREENER NORTHSTOWE

Disappointed council chiefs have accused the Government of making a u-turn 
on plans to make Northstowe one of the first of five so called eco-towns for 
the UK.

As part of his campaign to become Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced in a 
blaze of publicity that Northstowe, the new town proposed to be built near 
Cambridge, would be one of the new eco-towns.

But less than six months later, council chiefs have received a letter from 
Housing Minister Yvette Cooper saying that Northstowe cannot be an eco-town.

Although the Minister goes onto say she is prepared to consider extra 
funding for Cambridgeshire it would mean the County would not receive any 
extra eco-town funding.

The revelation comes in a reply to a letter sent by Cambridgeshire County 
Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridgeshire Horizons. 
The group had written to Yvette Cooper asking for clarification over the
Government published Green Paper and Eco-Town Prospectus which set out the 
criteria for the eco-towns.

The Prospectus mentioned Northstowe but not as an eco-town. It said the new 
town would be an exemplar of sustainability. Now the Minister has said that 
as Northstowe is adopted and in existing plans then it cannot be an eco-town 
but a prototype for them.

Cambridgeshire County Council Leader Shona Johnstone said: "This is very 
disappointing news. On the one hand Government uses Cambridgeshire to grab 
headlines to announce their new plans but then don't turn them into a 
reality. Government wants us to take these thousands of new homes but then 
don't give any clear indication on funding. We are not even clear on what 
exactly being a prototype means and what the Government expects Northstowe 
to be.

In any case, Northstowe has always been planned by the local authorities, as 
a greener and sustainable development. The positive news is that the 
Minister is prepared to look at additional funding as there is no doubt that 
Northstowe, and indeed, Cambridgeshire needs more. We will work with our 
partners, through Cambridgeshire Horizons, to make the case to Government, 
with the aim to create truly sustainable communities with a low carbon 
footprint."

Sir David Trippier, Chairman of Cambridgeshire Horizons, said: "There was 
enormous confusion over this matter when Gordon Brown made hisannouncement. 
Although I don't like the reply we have had to our letter I fully accept 
that even if we had been granted eco-town status it would have resulted in 
considerable planning delays. Therefore we can now move on as quickly as 
possible with the planning application due to go to South Cambridgeshire 
District Council in December. I do welcome the commitment there will be 
extra funding for Northstowe, not withstanding."

Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council Councillor Ray Manning said: 
"I welcome any commitment to extra funding for South Cambridgeshire and the 
county as a whole. Northstowe is going to cost money and any help towards 
this has to be a good thing.

"I am disappointed that Northstowe is not to be one of the named eco-towns 
but at least we can now get on with the job in hand and look forward to 
receiving a planning application."

John Reynolds