Secret plans have been unveiled to build 9,000 eco homes in Leeds creating a new eco-town, it has been reported.

The scheme, which has been proposed by two private companies, would be built on almost all green belt land in the Rothwell, Oulton and Woodlesford areas of the city, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.

Solar panels will be installed on all the properties and a number of wind turbines will be built on the 800-acre site.

The proposals include the building of six new primary schools and a secondary school and will make the village of Carlton three times bigger while doubling the size of Oulton.

Yorkshire's GMI Property Company and Isle of Man-based firm Oulton Hall Estates submitted the plans to Whitehall last October.

The publication revealed that the site may be on housing minister Caroline Flint's shortlist of 15 eco towns to be built nationwide.

A site referred to as Leeds City Region was announced on the minister's shortlist earlier this month.

"We have a housing shortage in this country and that's why we need to build more homes, but we also need to think about sustainable homes in sustainable communities," she told BBC News 24.

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Author:  Nick Appleyard

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