Plans for 10 new 'ecotowns' prompted claims of 'political opportunism' from the Tories yesterday after it emerged that most of the shortlisted sites fell within Conservative constituencies. Financial Times
Caroline Flint, housing minister, said the schemes would be Britain’s first new towns for nearly 50 years and they could provide up to 100,000 homes under 'green' standards.
But some of the proposals – particularly those on primarily greenfield sites in the Home Counties – were criticised by environmental groups and local residents.
Responding to news that 12 out of 15 of the chosen sites were in Conservative areas, Grant Shapps, shadow housing minister, said the fact that 12 out of 15 of the chosen sites were in Conservative areas smacked of “political opportunism”.
'Instead of delivering real change Labour have cynically focused on imposing ecotowns on Conservative constituencies and not in Labour areas.'