Plans to build new eco-town in North Kirklees

Dec 2 2009 by Katie Grant, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

KIRKLEES could be a world leader with plans to build one of the UK’s first ever eco-towns.

Housing minister John Healey announced he would give £10m in funding to 12 local authorities to help them develop plans for the low-carbon towns.

The Leeds City region, including North Kirklees, will be one of the areas to benefit after successfully bidding for the opportunity.

However, Huddersfield’s Green Party councillor Andrew Cooper told the Examiner more savings to the environment could be made by adapting existing homes.

He said: “The last plan for an eco-town was to build on a flood plain – which would have been very susceptible to global warming.

“It’s all very well looking at new properties but what we really want to be doing is getting lots of investment savings to be made to reducing carbon in existing properties.

“This would be more cost-effective.”

Clr Cooper proposed the country’s first universally free insulation scheme in 2007 by amending the Kirklees Warm Zone proposal to make cavity wall and loft insulation free for all residents.

Since then more than 100,000 Huddersfield householders have signed up to the scheme which has insulated more than 13,000 cavity walls and 30,000 lofts.

The Newsome ward councillor added: “Of course, if we are going to be building new houses then they should be energy efficient.”

Back in July, only four locations met the tough standards to become eco-towns.

Yesterday a further nine local authorities were added to the list.

The authorities will now need to submit detailed plans with pioneering green standards that adhere to the eco-towns planning policy statement that was published in July.

This includes 5,000 new homes and good ideas for low-carbon jobs, schools and transport.

The council will need to work as part of the Leeds City Region and with Aire Valley, York North West, and the Bradford to Shipley canal corridor.

A new Eco Town Network would be set up in conjunction with the Town and Country Planning Association, to act as an eco workshop for councils to come together and share ideas.