Prime Minister's pledge to double the number of eco-towns

The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) welcomes Gordon Brown’s pledge to build 10 rather than 5 new eco-towns, announced in his first Prime Minister's speech at the Labour Party Conference.

TCPA Chief Executive Gideon Amos said: “Affordable housing and environmental imperatives affect every region - it is therefore logical that every region should have the option to develop an eco-town.”

“The Prime Minister is absolutely right to make social and affordable housing in sustainable communities a priority and we strongly support the housing provision target of 3 million new homes by 2020.”

“Local authorities have a real opportunity to bring forward housing schemes through their plans and we encourage planning authorities to release more sites.”