Eco plan for British Sugar site (From York Press)

Eco plan for British Sugar site

12:20pm Thursday 30th October 2008 in

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MILLIONS of pounds are being sought from the Government to develop “eco communities” in Yorkshire – including one in York.

The Leeds City Region Partnership (LCRP) – involving representatives from 11 local authorities in Yorkshire including York, Selby and North Yorkshire – wants funding to create an eco community at the York Northwest site, which includes the old British Sugar and the York Central sites.

The move comes after the partnership rejected a proposal for a new eco town to be developed in the region to help address housing and regeneration needs.

Sites mooted for the eco town included land at Gascoigne Wood, near Sherburn-in-Elmet, at Burn Airfield, Church Fenton, and a site dubbed Willow Green, near Kellington, Eggborough and Beal.

LCRP is now proposing eco communities be developed as alternatives to the town idea.

Four sites, which are major brownfield regeneration sites, have been proposed. They are are Aire Valley, in Leeds; the Bradford-Shipley Canal Corridor; York Northwest, and North Kirklees/South Dewsbury.

City of York Council leader Andrew Waller, who is chairman of the city region housing panel, said: “Our proposals will provide an opportunity to develop eco communities within an urban setting.”

He said the communities would use the very latest in environmental technologies to be zero-carbon.

They would be nationally recognised for their design and environmental sustainability, and would provide a range of high-quality services, including an innovative public transport infrastructure.

They would boost jobs and the economy of the region as a whole and would provide “much needed” affordable housing,” said Coun Waller.

Coun David Scott, leader of the Labour group on the council, said: “I am pleased that the Leeds City Region is backing this initiative, an initiative we proposed over a year ago. We supported this at full council in September.” Coun Scott said the benefits of developing an eco-community in York could be substantial. “York can lead the way and act as a blueprint for other towns and cities to follow. But the key now is to stop talking about it and for there to be some action.”

Robert Light, chair of LCRP, said: “These sites offer a much more sustainable option with significant potential for pioneering on a large scale, high-quality design and sustainable living principles to create new places that deliver truly integrated and sustainable living environments.

“Importantly, these are all major brownfield sites which will play a significant role in helping regenerate some of the city region’s major towns and cities. The partnership is keen to work with Government to ensure that the necessary funding and support is identified to ensure their early development.”

Just how much money LCRP is seeking from the Government to fund the eco communities is not clear. It would only say it is seeking “millions”.