The idea of environmentally-friendly new towns initially proved popular enough for the Government to expand the scheme, but where they could be built has become highly controversial.

The eco-towns, which are intended to tackle the twin problems of housing shortages and climate change, have to be carbon zero as a whole, be an “exemplar” in one area of environmental development and have at least 30 per cent affordable housing. Up to 10 are proposed, with five being built by 2016 and a further five by 2020.

Eco-towns were the first major policy announced by Gordon Brown as he launched his bid to take over as prime minister, and the idea was expanded from five towns to 10 last September following an initial positive response.

Since then concerns have been raised over transport links, jobs provision, the environmental impact of the sites and whether they can deliver the green, affordable housing that is promised.

Even before the shortlist of 15 possible towns was unveiled in April, local communities were marching against sites they believed had been earmarked by developers or councils for new “eco-town” settlements. Many protesters were concerned that several of the plans thought to have been submitted were on sites where conventional developments had failed to get off the ground.

The so-called “recycled” developments included two on the shortlist: Rossington, South Yorkshire, and Curborough, Staffordshire - which has since been withdrawn. The Government insists that no bid will succeed without meeting stringent environmental standards.

The 15 shortlisted bids have been subject to public consultation and scrutiny by the Government’s Eco-town Challenge Panel. But many potential eco-towns continue to attract protests from local people - opposing everything from the increased pressure on services to the Government approving development on Ministry of Defence land from which it could stand to benefit financially.

High-profile opponents of various schemes have included actress Dame Judi Dench, author Jilly Cooper and tennis star Tim Henman’s father Tony.

In the face of scrutiny, several proposals have fallen by the wayside since the shortlist was announced.

Manby and Strubby, in Lincolnshire, was withdrawn by East Lindsey District Council following strong local opposition. Curborough was pulled from the list after the Eco-town Challenge Panel said the “eco” element was an add-on to the bid - itself based on a current planning application of housing wrapped around an existing business park.

New Marston, one of two closely-linked sites in Bedfordshire, has also been withdrawn while a bid by Tesco to build at Hanley Grange, Cambridgeshire, collapsed after the Wellcome Trust, which owned part of the land, refused to sell.