NAEA: No second homes in eco towns

Investors in second homes should be prevented from purchasing properties in proposed new eco towns, an expert suggests.

According to the chief executive of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), ministers need to place planning conditions on new eco towns developments in order to ensure that local buyers are not priced out of the market.

Peter Bolton King claims that the government needs to plan carefully to ensure that local people can afford the properties, the BBC reports.

Between 30 per cent and 50 per cent of the new homes in eco towns will be affordable, but Mr Bolton King believes that tighter safeguards are needed to protect people living in local areas.

The government has identified 15 potential sites for the controversial eco towns, which will be reduced to a final ten following consultation. Ministers claim that eco towns will promote environmental excellence, while opponents are concerned that they could be built on greenfield land.

However, eco town developments are under threat, the Yorkshire Evening Post recently, as the Conservative party has stated that it will not support the proposals if it wins the next general election and has criticised the scheme as "unworkable".

If plans for eco towns are rejected, people looking for an eco-friendly home should consider self build as a way of creating a greener property.