Government plans to provide new sustainable and affordable homes in the UK have been given the thumbs-up by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

Housing minister John Healey has announced the locations for four new EcoTowns, as well as early results of the consultation on the definition of zero carbon and the first list of successful bids for low carbon infrastructure funding.

The four EcoTown sites are in Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Greater Norwich and St Austell.

Robert Napier, chairman of the HCA, said the announcement is good news for the government's efforts to tackle housing need and climate change.

"I personally hope that local residents will embrace these new settlements as an environmentally sustainable way of providing new and affordable homes for local people who need somewhere decent to live," he commented.

The HCA recently unveiled a partnership between itself and Telford and Wrekin Council which will fast-track the construction of around 200 new affordable homes in the borough.

Source: Direct News 17/07/09