‘New’ garden villages are mostly recycled

Most of the 17 new garden villages and towns announced this week by the Department for Communities and Local Government are little more than a rebranding of existing schemes, according to analysis by Estates Gazette. Some of the schemes, such as Welbourne in Hampshire and Long Marston in Stratford Upon Avon, have been locked in planning battles for years, while others include little more than what was in existing local plans. The government said the 14 villages and three towns would accommodate 200,000 homes, but previously released site information indicates they only have capacity for about 90,000. Funding of £7.4m will be made available for the areas, amounting to just £37 per home. Government has also not made clear what advantages garden village status would bring, other than financial benefits. “This money will be used to unlock the full capacity of sites, providing funding for additional resources and expertise to accelerate development and avoid delays,” the DCLG said. A spokesman added that no overarching planning relaxation is being applied to the schemes. He said: “We are keen to work with local areas to understand what flexibilities will help them deliver more homes rather than prejudge what an area might want.” Factsheet: Garden villages and towns Where Ownership First proposed Planned housing The villages: 48,000 homes   Long Marston in Stratford-on-Avon Public: MoD and government 2008 6,000 Oxfordshire Cotswold in West Oxfordshire Mixed: public and private interest, Oxfordshire CC considerable portion 2016 2,200 Deenethorpe in East Northants Private: Deene Estate Airfield 2014 1,250 Culm in Mid Devon Mixed: private 2010 2,100 Welborne near Fareham in Hampshire Multiple private. Two owners own 90%: Buckland Capital Partners on behalf of the Southwick Estate and BST Group on behalf of the Benge Estate 2011 6,000 West Carclaze in Cornwall Private: mining company Imerys, brought forward by JV Eco-Bos and CCC 2009 1,500 Dunton Hills near Brentwood, Essex Multiple: private and public 2014 6,000 Spitalgate Heath in South Kesteven, Lincolnshire Private: Buckminster Estate 2014 3,700 Halsnead in Knowsley, Merseyside Private: Halsnead Park Estate 2011 1,500 Longcross in Runnymede and Surrey Heath Private: Qinetic 2012 n/a Bailrigg in Lancaster Mixed: university, private, public New n/a Infinity Garden Village in South Derbyshire and Derby City area Private: various private owners promoted by Hallam Land Management 2012 2,000 St Cuthberts near Carlisle City, Cumbria Unknown New Part of 10,000 North Cheshire in Cheshire East Private, MoD. Cheshire East Council’s development company, Engine of the North, to bring forward 2014 1,650 The towns: 150,000 homes Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire Various 2016 33,000 Taunton, Somerset Various 2016 Min 10,000 Harlow & Gilston, Essex and Hertfordshire Various: EHDC, Epping Forest District Council and Harlow Council 2016 Min 10,000 • To send feedback, e-mail alex.peace@estatesgazette.com or tweet @EGAlexPeace or @estatesgazette