Gordon Brown's controversial eco-towns plan could be unlawful, according to top QCs. The legal opinions cast fresh doubts on the Prime Minister's plans for up to 10 of the towns across England.
One opinion released today by the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England found that the policy could be unlawful because the towns would be able to circumvent normal planning processes.
John Hobson QC, the campaign's honorary standing council, said the Government could find itself open to legal challenges by allowing developers to avoid well-established local development plans.
Pushing ahead with the plans would risk "distorting the plan making process", he said.
The news comes after another QC, John Steel said the plans were "unfair, illogical and unreasonable".
Kate Gordon, the campaign's Senior Planner said: "Communities rely on a robust planning system to guide development to where it is needed most while protecting the countryside.
"CPRE has been urging the Government not to pursue its eco-town policy in its current form. This legal opinion adds to existing doubts over the lawfulness of the Government's approach."
