Questions raised on eco-town bid

Tougher green standards have been set for eco-towns

Controversial plans for an eco-town in Oxfordshire have suffered a severe setback - getting the lowest possible rating from the government.

Weston Otmoor was placed at the bottom of a shortlist of 12 with ministers saying it will only be suitable with substantial and exceptional innovation.

But it has emerged that Cherwell Council has put forward an alternative site on the edge of Bicester.

That site proposes 5,000 homes and has been declared "suitable".

The council warned that Weston Otmoor could suck the lifeblood out of Bicester, whereas building on the edge of the town itself might have the opposite effect.

I think it's time central government recognised it's a monstrously bad site and took us off their mailing list Tony Henman

The Weston Otmoor site, which was only given a "Grade C" rating, adjoins the M40 and the Oxford-Bicester railway and includes greenbelt and ancient woodland.

The proposals to build between 10,000 and 15,000 homes on the site have been widely opposed by local people, including Tony Henman, father of former top British tennis star Tim.

"I think it's time central government recognised it's a monstrously bad site and took us off their mailing list," he said.

He said it was clear from the grading that the new development was viewed as "totally bad for a whole variety of different reasons".

However, the alternative site north west of Bicester, has been awarded a "Grade B" rating, which means it might be suitable subject to meeting specific planning design objectives.

Barry Wood, Conservative leader of Cherwell District Council, said while the Weston Otmoor proposal was "not acceptable", the north west Bicester option was "at an extremely early stage of development".

Tough standards

Keith Mitchell, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: "It is good news that the eco-credentials of Weston Otmoor have been found wanting, as we always thought they would be.

"However, it is bad news that Weston Otmoor still seems to be considered as an option in government circles."

Gordon Brown originally wanted 15 of the model green communities spread across England, but that was reduced to a dozen.

I do not expect all of these locations to go forward Margaret Beckett Housing Minister

Now only one - Rackheath, near Norwich - has been given a "Grade A" and looks likely to be built, while question marks hang over the rest.

Ministers have stiffened the criteria for potential sites including a requirement for every town to have at least 40% of its area as "green space".

Housing Minister Margaret Beckett said: "It is vital we get the locations for these eco-towns right and the shortlist has been refined to reflect the results of the most detailed assessment to date on these potential locations.

"But I do not expect all of these locations to go forward - the eco-town standards are tough and I think some of these shortlisted schemes could struggle to meet them."