Everyone seems to be getting in on the green bandwagon these days with oil prices hitting all time highs in the last few weeks and ’sustainable’ growth becoming the new mantra of business and politics but…

Lawyers John Steel QC and James Strachan, representing the Local Government Association, said an existing planning policy statement covered the concept of providing housing in new settlements in an environmentally sustainable way and that there was not clear justification for promoting eco-towns outside the existing rules, "other than the government’s wish to avoid the system due to the proper need for scrutiny, which takes time". Ouch!

A Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman said: "We absolutely disagree with the LGA’s claims and believe this legal advice can only have been obtained on the basis of a misrepresentation of our policy".

Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps said the legal advice would add weight to the argument that ministers had "effectively destroyed their own eco-town project".

Do we want ‘unlawful’ Eco-towns or should such legal arguments stand in the way of eco-progress. Maybe the plans are just a bit of, ‘we are green, honest!’

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