Proposals for an eco town in the countryside near Stratford-upon-Avon have been poorly thought out and would result in the development of expensive, inaccessible housing estates requiring huge subsidies from taxpayers, according to a study by Warwickshire County Council.
A report to the council cabinet tomorrow urges Housing Minister Caroline Flint to remove a 240-hectare former MOD depot site at Long Marston from the list of 15 possible locations across the country earmarked for pioneering green communities.
The study warns that the result of pushing ahead with developing the site, which is seven miles from the nearest A-road, would cut across the Government’s sustainability agenda, resulting in "a large carbon footprint, requiring long-term support from the taxpayer."
According to Mrs Flint, the chosen sites must be capable of delivering zero-carbon towns where at least half of residents do not require cars.
But the council study predicts that a lack of jobs in Long Marston would force many inhabitants to drive to work in Stratford and other Warwickshire towns, putting pressure on inadequate rural roads.
Questions are also raised about who could afford to buy a house in the eco town.
It is suggested the average cost of housing would be £300,000 per dwelling, in order to pay for infrastructure, public transport and additional land, and there is no evidence that aspirations for a carbon-neutral town would be met.
The capital cost of building the town could approach £500 million, including £75 million for schools, the study concludes.
Paul Galland, strategic director for environment and the economy at Warwickshire County Council, warns in the cabinet report that Government forecasts of 6,000 houses at Long Marston are likely to prove an under-estimate.
He believes the eco town – named as Middle Quinton by the project’s promoters St Modwen and the Bird Group – would require at least 12,000 dwellings to become financially viable.
"This in turn would require an even larger site, perhaps four times as large as the current site proposal," Mr Galland adds.
The report goes on: "In relation to the land use distribution in a conventional town, the 240 hectare site of the Middle Quinton proposal is very probably not big enough to provide sufficient land for a sustainable balance of employment, education, parks, shopping and other community services as well as 6,000 dwellings.
"The location of the Long Marston depot is such that it will not easily become an eco town as far as transport is concerned and there is significant risk that unsustainable and environmentally damaging patterns of travel will become established by the residents of the new settlement."
Chris Saint, the Warwickshire cabinet member for economic development, warned traffic from Middle Quinton would be drawn toward Stratford, "where there is gridlock at the best of times".
Coun Saint (Con Shipston) added: "The conclusion of the cabinet report is that an eco town is not sustainable in this location. It is a bad deal."
The consultation period for the 15 long-listed sites, which includes plans for an eco town at Curborough on the outskirts of Lichfield, ends in two weeks. A final list of 10 will be announced in October.
It has been reported that the Government is considering imposing fines on residents of the new settlements who drive their cars out of town above a set number of agreed journeys.
It is also likely that vehicles will have to be parked at the edge of the town, leaving car owners facing a cycle ride or walk to their homes.
Eco town houses will have no garages, just a cycle rack, under plans modelled on European schemes.
David Smith, the leader of Lichfield District Council, said: "We have no doubt whatsoever that the development of an eco town at Curborough would be inappropriate for Lichfield. We are totally opposed."
