Elsenham was identified by Government on a shortlist for Eco-towns as a potential location for an Eco-town of at least 5,000 dwellings in April 2008.  In July 2009, the Government published its Planning Policy Statement on Eco-towns and announced four Eco-towns would be built in a ‘first-wave’ of the programme.  The Fairfield Partnership’s proposals for north-east Elsenham was indicated in July 2009 as one of six possible ‘second-wave’ Eco-town sites.  This ‘second-wave’ would be under construction by 2020.

The Planning Policy Statement: Eco-towns can be seen by clicking here.

Eco-towns will be small new towns intended to exploit the potential to create a complete new settlement and to achieve zero carbon development and more sustainable living using the best new design and architecture.

We first submitted an Eco-town Expression of Interest and accompanying technical reports to the Department for Communities and Local Government in October 2007.

The documents submitted can be downloaded below:

		Land North-East of Elsenham Eco-town Expression of Interest PDF Document: 2MB

		Elsenham Ecological Assessment PDF Document: 9.4MB

		Elsenham Settlement Study PDF Document: 7.3MB

		Elsenham Landscape and Visual Assessment PDF Document: 7.1MB

		Land East of Elsenham - Initial Road Link Capacity Assessment Report PDF Document: 3.4MB

		Elsenham: A Strategic Master Plan Vision PDF Document: 2.0MB

 

The developing Eco-town proposals have been presented to the Eco-town Challenge Panel on the 3 June 2008. A link to our presentation is below.

		Presentation 1 PDF Document: 1.2MB

 

The Panel’s comments on our initial presentation were published in June 2008.

		The Panel’s Comments PDF Document: 0.3MB

 

On the 26th of June 2008 our proposals were presented to the then Minister for
Housing and Planning, the Rt Hon Caroline Flint MP.

		Presentation to Minister PDF Document: 2.2MB

 

A further presentation of our proposals was made to the Eco-town Challenge Panel
on the 7 July 2008. A link to our presentation is below.

		Presentation 2 PDF Document: 5.5MB

 

31 July 2008. Notes and recommendations from session 2 of the eco-town challenge

		Eco Town Challenge PDF Document: 0.5MB

 

At the end of July 2008 the main elements of our eco-town bid proposals
were submitted to Government.

		Main elements of Elsenham Eco-town proposals July 2008 PDF Document: 2.2MB

 

A Community Engagement and Consultation Strategy Overview was submitted to the Department for Communities and Local Government in July 2008:

		Elsenham Eco-town Community Engagement and Consultation Strategy Overview (Version II – July 2008)   PDF Document: 0.2MB

 

At the end of August 2008 our final eco-town bid proposals were submitted to Government. The Draft Transport Assessment is subject of ongoing technical consultation and will be published in full once this is completed. A summary of the Draft Transport Assessment is set out below:

		Land North-East of Elsenham: Final Bid Proposal and Funding Plan (edited)  PDF Document: 1.1MB

		Elsenham Co-operative Limited Outline Business Plan PDF Document: 1.4MB

		Elsenham Eco-town Interim Energy Assessment PDF Document: 0.4MB

		Elsenham Eco-town Ecological Foot-printing Analysis PDF Document: 0.3MB

		Elsenham Draft Transport Assessment Summary PDF Document: 0.05MB

Our proposals were subject of a series of public exhibitions in October 2008:

		Consultation Information - Printer friendly version PDF Document: 2.1MB

Further technical information was submitted to the Department of Communities and Local Government in December 2008. This included confidential information on financial viability. This information will be made available when published by Government.

		Elsenham Eco-town Sustainable Infrastructure Update (December 2008) PDF Document: 0.3MB

		Elsenham - Water Cycle Study Scoping Report PDF Document: 0.5MB

		Elsenham Eco-town Interim Water Demand and Supply Assessment: Benchmarks and Options Consideration (December 2008) PDF Document: 0.4MB