DETAILS of how the Whitehill and Bordon eco-town bid could affect people's day-to-day life have been published by the Government.

The Government's latest planning-policy statement details rules that eco-towns must adhere to, including transport, waste and local services.

And steps are being taken to ensure that facilities and public transport can be accessed easily, reducing the need for cars in the town.

The policy (08SC905602) states: "Travel in eco-towns should support people's desire for mobility, while achieving the goal of low carbon living.

"Homes should be within 10 minutes walk of frequent public transport and neighbourhood services."

New primary schools in the town will be a maximum walking distance of 800 metres from homes so that children can easily walk or cycle to their classes.

Lead architect for the plans Wendy Shillam said: "The school run is a huge influence on congestion in any town, and so it is very important that children can walk or cycle to school safely and easily.

"Eight hundred metres is around half a mile and if you look at the primary schools in Whitehill and Bordon at the moment, they are all dotted around and within this sort of proximity to houses already. The policy statement is just making a rule out of something that local education authorities have been working towards for some time."

The planning policy also says that the eco-town development must provide the town with leisure, health, education and sports facilities – not just more homes.

It also states that 40 per cent of the town must be retained as green space.

The new policy also includes guidelines for planning permission within the new towns, and says that permission will not be given to any building which will result in a net loss of biodiversity to the local area.

As well as this, the town must also protect the local wildlife and help it to flourish.

All planning applications for development in the eco-town must also show that the net carbon dioxide emissions are zero or below, and how at least 50 per cent of journeys starting in the town will be made without using cars.

District councillor Ian Dowdle, the portfolio-holder for Whitehill and Bordon, said: "The Government policy ensures that Whitehill-Bordon residents will be living in a really great town with all the facilities they could ever wish for.

"The emphasis is on creating a really attractive place to live, as well as providing more jobs, shops and leisure opportunities.

"Normal planning procedures are still in place, but with eco-town status the town would also benefit from the higher standards that this policy proposes.

"The statement is good news for Whitehill-Bordon and its residents.

"I am looking forward to a positive decision about the town's future early next year."

But last week, the Government announced that the Whitehill and Bordon bid was graded as a "B", while one town in Norfolk was given an "A" grade.

Mr Dowdle said: "The rating which Whitehill-Bordon has recently been given is only part of the assessment process.

"The process will look at a range of issues. The strengths of the Whitehill-Bordon proposal are very clear. As well as the obvious benefits to the town, this is a public sector-led project which means that Government, in its widest sense, is able to make all the decisions to deliver. No other project has this advantage.  

"We remain confident that securing eco-town status is well within our grasp."

County councillor for Whitehill, Bordon and Lindford Adam Carew said: "These criteria come from the criteria common to all eco-towns, as laid down in the latest government planning policy, but they will help ensure the high standards that we expect for any regeneration in Whitehill and Bordon. 

"These planning requirements will help us to get what we need for our town, in terms of leisure and shopping facilities, infrastructure, and education.

"I am delighted to see that eco-towns have to have a net gain in wildlife biodiversity, not a net loss, which makes protection and linkage of our green spaces central to all future plans for our area.

"The latest bid has also taken on board what we have been saying locally about protecting green spaces, retaining Ministry of Defence key buildings for possible community use and, most importantly, investigating the possibility of a rail link back in Bordon, which is something we have been very keen to push locally."

It is expected that the successful eco-town bids will be announced by the Government by the end of March next year.

Further details on the planning policy can be viewed at the website address http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/ppsecotowns">www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/ppsecotowns. To order a hard copy, free of charge, write to: Community and Local Government Publications, PO Box 236, Wetherby, LS23 7NB.

Alternatively, telephone 0300 123 1124.