Tom Levitt, MSN Environment Editor

Eco-towns: Q&A

What are eco-towns?

Carbon neutral towns. They use no more energy than they produce. So over the course of a year, an eco-town's net carbon emissions from all energy use within its buildings would be zero.

Are there any eco-towns in the UK already?

No, not yet. Although there are a number of developments that have been built to be more environmentally-friendly and use less energy. In Europe, there are eco-towns in existence in both Germany and Sweden.

Why is the government keen on building them?

They offer the prospect of solving two challenges; the need for more sustainable buildings and communities that reduce the UK's carbon emissions AND the need for more affordable housing in the UK.

What will the eco-towns in the UK be like?

The government has laid out the following criteria for all eco-towns. They must;

-Be new settlements, separate from existing towns and on land never previously developed for housing.

-Have a minimum of 5,000 homes, with between 30-50 per cent of the stock being designated as affordable housing.

-A minimum of one acre of green space for every 100 homes.

-A good range of facilities - a secondary school, a medium scale retail centre, good quality business space and leisure facilities.

-All shops, services and community facilities must be no more than 10 minutes walk from all homes.

-Have a management body which will develop the town and help support the influx of people and businesses.

What type of things will exist in eco-towns?

State of the art storage, collection and recycling of household waste.

Waste food or wood used to fuel electricity and heat generators.

Household collection rainwater to reduce water demand.

Half the households expected not to rely on a car.

Streets primarily designed to accommodate pedestrians, cyclists and public transport and not cars.

Where will they be built?

A shortlist of 15 locations has been announced. This list will be cut down to a final 10 by the Summer.

Pennbury, Leicestershire
Manby and Strubby, Lincolnshire
Curborough, Staffordshire
Middle Quinton, Warwickshire
Bordon-Whitehill, Hampshire
Weston Otmoor, Oxfordshire
Ford, West Sussex
Imerys China Clay community, Cornwall
Rossington, South Yorkshire
Coltishall, Norfolk
Hanley Grange, Cambridgeshire
Marston Vale and New Marston, Bedfordshire
Elsenham, Essex
Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire
Leeds city region, Yorkshire

When will they be built?

Five eco-towns are expected to be built by 2016 and 10 by 2020.