Written question asked by Huw Irranca-Davies (Labour) on Wednesday, 9 November 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 November 2011. It was answered by Lord Benyon (Conservative) on Monday, 28 November 2011 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Eco-towns

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the potential contribution of eco-my towns to (a) rural housing, (b) sustainable rural communities and (c) growth in the rural economy.

Answer: To date, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman), has made no separate assessment of the potential contribution of eco-towns to rural housing, sustainable rural communities, and to growth in the rural economy.Eco-towns are just one option for achieving sustainable development and can play a key role in testing and demonstrating, through their scale, greater levels of innovation in sustainability and meeting local housing need. Learning from these locally-led developments as they progress will be of interest to the Government.

Secondary information