Two areas in the Selby district have been identified for possible development, as part of which a brand new town would be created, one that would be larger than Selby town. 

It is thought an announcement will be made this month on which eco town bids across the country will get central Government backing. 

Under current legislation a new eco town could be created without any input from the council, even though the authority would be responsible for delivering key services to residents in the new town.
At a meeting this week councillors agreed to strongly reject the proposed new towns.  The authority will also be contacting the Department for Communities and Local Government about the lack of consultation about the proposals.

The council has set out several key reasons why it is objecting to the new developments.

These are:
· The proposals are not justified within the agreed regional spatial strategy, which sets out the areas for future development within the Leeds City Region.
· There is no established need for such developments in these areas.
· The infrastructure is not in place to support such developments, for example transport, energy, water and employment.
· The proposals for affordable housing are inadequate and not in accord with policies already agreed by Selby District Council.
· The size of such a development would be an unacceptable distraction from the development and enhancement of Selby town.

Cllr Mark Crane, leader of Selby District Council said:
"This is not a rejection of the concept of eco towns - indeed two of the Council's key corporate priorities centre around the environment and climate change. 

But we do not believe that the principles of sustainability, delivering local employment, developing on brown field land and adequate provision of affordable housing can be achieved with either of these developments.  Neither sites have the necessary transport or employment infrastructure.

He added:

"We also have grave concerns that such development would ignore locally agreed planning policies that have been developed in partnership in local communities and taking into consideration local needs.  We'll be raising these worries with the Government to make sure the voices of people living in the Selby district can be heard."