Eco-town locations shortlisted

A total of 15 possible locations have been announced as sites for new eco-towns to be constructed across the UK, the Associated Press has reported.

Housing ministers claim to have chosen the shortlist from a selection of 57 potential areas and plan to further narrow it down to ten sites in the coming months.

According to the news source, the towns are thought to contain a planned 5,000 to 20,000 homes built to zero-carbon standards - of which between 30 and 50 per cent will represent affordable housing.

However, some groups have opposed the new proposed locations, including senior planning officers at the Campaign to Protect Rural England.

Kate Gordon of the group stated: "We think it's a good idea, but they need to be in the right place and unfortunately, we think most of the locations would not be in the right place."

Despite some opposition, the Telegraph reported that the plans received "a broad welcome" from a range of homeless charities and environmental groups, with Friends of the Earth claiming the plans could represent a "blueprint" for low-carbon living.

Housing minister Caroline Flint unveiled the shortlist of eco-town sites, which include seven locations in the west country or home counties, the midlands, east Anglia and two sites in Yorkshire.