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UK Housing Minister John Healey has announced a £60 million investment to build 600 green homes in four eco-towns around the country.

Last year, the Government announced the go ahead for the first wave of eco-towns at Whitehill-Bordon in Hampshire, St Austell in Cornwall, Rackheath in Norfolk and North West Bicester in Oxfordshire.

The initial investment will construct ‘eco-show homes’ in the four locations, which could ultimately have 10,000 eco homes by 2016.

The eco-show homes will feature smart meters, insulation to the highest standards, water efficiency measures, recycling or composting of waste and electric car charging points.

“These four areas have done a huge amount of work to plan new homes designed and built to the toughest ever environmental standards,” says Healey. “This is the start of the country’s biggest ever eco-home building programme.”

The funds will also be used to improve transport links, including fast bus routes and electric car facilities, and an extra £2.5 million from the Department for Children Schools and Families will help boost the energy efficiency of local schools.

“This cash will also help transform local schools and create new transport links and energy sources,” adds Healey. “By the time the eco-towns are finished green living will already be a way of life for these communities.”

For further information:
www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingsupply/ecotowns/
www.communities.gov.uk/
www.dcsf.gov.uk/

Related stories:
UK Government unveils second wave of eco-towns (3-Dec 2009)
Four eco-towns going forward to next stage (16-Jul 2009)