The 10 eco-towns, five to be built by 2016 and the rest by 2020 will have to be car-based and therefore will result in more, not less carbon emissions.
'Even with car clubs, cycle lanes and a bus services, these towns are going to be packed out with new roads and new roads lead to more car use and as a result more carbon emissions,' said Brian Berry of the Federation of Master Builders.
The FMB believes a patchwork of hundreds of smaller eco-projects would be a better concept, with contracts awarded by local regions and communities for both new homes (in existing towns, near existing transport links) and refurbishment of old buildings, with green measures spread around a range of proven technologies.
Well known architect Lord Rogers, designer of the London Millennium dome and Heathrow's Terminal 5, said they are one of the biggest mistakes ever made.
Lord Rogers said that building in green areas for 5,000 to 10,000 people has to be car-based. 'It will not be a walking, living community. It goes against everything we know about sustainability,' he said.
The 15 locations shortlisted for the eco-towns are as follows: Bordon, Coltishall, Curborough, Elsenham, Ford in West Sussex, Hanley Grange, Imerys, Leeds and Manby, Marston Vale, New Marston in Bedfordshire, Middle Quinton, Pennbury, Rossington, Rushcliffe and Weston Otmoor
Arun District Council has already decided to hold its own public inquiry into the siting of an eco-town in West Sussex. The public consultation gets underway on Tuesday May 27th. It will be led by eight councillors and an independent planner and will also look at alternative sites before reporting back to the council at the end of June.
In other areas a number of protest groups have been set up to fight the Government's plans.
