Housing Minister Margaret Beckett announced that the deadline is now Thursday April 30 and there will be a further opportunity for the public to have a say once planning applications are submitted for eco-towns.
The government is in bullish mood despite a lot of local opposition from residents next to the proposed eco towns and environmentalists who claim that not enough thought has been put into how sustainable they will really be especially when it comes to transport.
Last month it won a legal challenge that it had not consulted properly before drawing up a short list of eco towns. The High Court dismissed an attempt by a campaign group, BARD, to seek a Judicial Review.
'Eco-towns present a superb opportunity to provide more affordable housing which is built to the UK's toughest ever green standards, and we cannot afford to miss it. But it is vital we identify the right locations for these eco-towns and I will not support any proposal that our assessment and consultation concludes is unsuitable,' said Beckett.
'I know this is an issue that raises a lot of strong opinion on all sides. I have extended the deadline to ensure that all parties, irrespective of their views, are given the full opportunity to have their say, and I urge everyone to respond to this consultation,' she added.
A viability study on the proposals submitted by developers will also be published shortly and will provide more information to people looking to respond to the consultation.
Critics are determined to continue. Stratford MP John Maples is urging local people to continue to oppose the eco towns. 'If we miss this opportunity then we risk having to live with more traffic congestion, increased demand on services and the loss of our green and pleasant land,' he said.
'In short, poorly-sited eco-towns will lead to soulless commuter-based dormitory towns becoming expensive white elephants of the future,' said David Bliss, Chairman of the BARD Campaign.
There are currently eleven locations on the eco-towns shortlist: Rackheath, Greater Norwich; Middle Quinton, Warwickshire; Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire; Ford, West Sussex; Bordon-Whitehill, Hampshire; St Austell (China Clay Community), Cornwall; Rossington, South Yorkshire; North East Elsenham, Essex; Pennbury, Leicestershire; Weston Otmoor, Oxfordshire; and North West Bicester (Cherwell) as an alternative to Weston Otmoor. The developers promoting Marston Vale in Bedfordshire withdrew from the eco towns process earlier in February.
