Eco towns 'must be socially sustainable'

The government's plan to build ten eco-towns around the country must take into consideration not only environmental but also social concerns, it has been suggested.

The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) has said that though the government has pledged to build three million new homes by 2020, they must also push for good design practices to ensure that the towns do not become a homogenous block of housing.

A variety of housing types will encourage integration among different demographics, the TCPA has suggested.

"I think one of the problems in the past has been building mono-tenure housing estates in the 60s and 70s, whereas new thinking is much more cohesive, and about integrating people," said TCPA spokesperson Kate Henderson.

"We need to create not just houses but socially successful communities. You can do that through design and having a mix of tenures.

"You have a mix of different densities, some with gardens, some without, and lots of green space is always good as long as it’s managed well," Ms Henderson continued.

PlotSearch only lists plots that you can build on - no greenbelt or agricultural land

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