The government has set out what it promises are the "toughest ever" green standards for new homes in so-called eco-towns.
Setting out a progress report on planning policy, housing minister Caroline Flint said eco-town status will only be awarded to schemes with high sustainability standards.
All the town's buildings will have to achieve zero carbon status, including commercial and public buildings, the new standards dictate.
Some 40 per cent of land within the town must also be green space, at least half of which must be in the form of parks and recreation areas that are accessible to the public.
Ms Flint said: "These would be the toughest standards ever set out for new development and demonstrate that there will be no compromise on quality with eco-towns."
The Campaign to Protect Rural England has welcomed the new standards, although it said some need to be more challenging. For example, measures of zero carbon should apply to transport as well as buildings.
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