Eco-town warriors win

摘要

If you examine local government, in most parts of the country you could be forgiven for thinking that regeneration is the only game in town. From the Northern Way to the Thames Gateway, urban authorities throughout the country are fighting for cash to build the economy and expand their housing - and infrastructure to match. Or, at least, that was the case before the economic downturn. But what happens when development is not welcome? In Cambridgeshire, the county council was confronted with plans for two new developments that were simply not wanted. Last week, it won its fight against both. This may not mean that a policy of short-sighted NIMBY-ism is enough to fight off the march of progress. While Cambridgeshire CC is fiercely protective of the quality of life in its area, the planning battle was not just a case of protecting the status quo. On the contrary, the county has a strong plan for growth - all of which has been laid out in its strategic plan. And, with a new development under way at Northstowe, the council was keen not to allow extra sites to jeopardise its strategy - and risk the success on the existing development.