Four new eco towns of between 5,000 and 20,000 homes each have been given the go ahead by the UK Government. The successful towns of Rackheath in Norfolk, North West Bicester in Oxfordshire, The China Clay Community scheme near St Austell and Whitehill in Hampshire were selected from an original of 15.

The promoters of each scheme can now bid for a share of the £60m GBP allocated for local infrastructure.

Michael Hammond