Planning Issues - Eco Towns - A 453 Widening - Urban Extension at Clifton

The developers behind the Marston Vale eco town project in Bedfordshire have pulled out of the government's Eco-towns programme in favour of going through the regional planning process.  O&H Properties said that it will pursue planning permission for a sustainable new settlement through the review of the East of England Plan and relevant local development frameworks.

The government's plans to build so-called "eco-towns" have been dealt a blow after a developer pulled out of one project. That leaves 11 and the government is set to opt for 10 in its final list.  The remaining ones in the EM are

PENNBURY, LEICESTERSHIRE  Between 12,000 and 15,000 homes on a development incorporating brownfield, greenfield and surplus public sector land, four miles south-east of Leicester. This proposal could include 4,000 new affordable homes in an area where more than 13,500 people are on the affordable housing waiting list.

RUSHCLIFFE, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE  An eco-town of between 5,000 and 6,000 homes is proposed at the former RAF base in Newton and Bingham. The proposal joined the list after a site at Kingston-on-Soar was dropped. The new site would provide at least 1,500 affordable homes in an area where more than 1,500 people are on an affordable home waiting list.

East Midlands A453 widening moves a step closer as new congestion-busting plans published

Details of a major road widening scheme to cut congestion, improve safety and help boost the East Midlands economy have been published . The improvement scheme would see the vital A453 widened between Junction 24 of the M1 and the A52 at Nottingham. This would bring faster and safer journeys to one of the most heavily congested routes in the East Midlands - and the main road link between Nottingham, the M1 and East Midlands Airport.

The improved A453 will also provide direct access to the new East Midlands Parkway Station - opened by Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon on Monday this week - making it easier to make journeys combining road and rail. Transport Minister Andrew Adonis said: "Widening the A453 will have huge benefits for everyone who uses the route - currently one of the most heavily congested roads in the region. Without improvements, congestion on this important link between Nottingham, the M1 and East Midlands Airport is set to get even worse with the number of vehicles using the route predicted to increase by up to 4,000 a day by 2027

A public exhibition on plans for an urban extension on green belt land south of Nottingham has been held to garner support ahead of an application being lodged.

Barratt Developments is seeking to build on land immediately south of Clifton. A third of the planned 5,500 homes at Nottingham Gateway would be affordable. The development also includes 30ha of employment... The development also includes 30ha of employment land, three schools, shops, recreational facilities and a park-and-ride scheme.

The developer is consulting with the community ahead of finalising the proposals, which it aims to submit to Rushcliffe Borough Council shortly. See:www.nottinghamgateway.com