<p>Current public support for ecotowns outnumbers opposition by a ratio of 5:1, according to a You Gov survey.</p> <br><p>According to the findings, 46% of adults supported the development of ecotowns, against 9% who were opposed.</p> <br><p>The survey, conducted this month, also revealed that 58% claimed there was little or no affordable housing within five miles of their home.</p> <br><p>Housing minister Caroline Flint recognised that ecotowns provoked strong opinion: “That’s why the consultation process [the first phase of which completed on June 30] is so important. However, our initial research among the general public shows clear support in favour of ecotowns.”</p> <br><p>In stark contrast to the results, yesterday (June 30) hundreds of protestors demonstrated outside parliament and handed in petitions to stop the development of the towns.</p> <br><p>Brian Berry, director of external affairs at the Federation of Master Builders, (FMB) commented that the whole ecotowns concept needed revising and that empty houses should be retrofitted instead: “Building brand new ecotowns outside cities is a really bad idea when there are 675,000 homes in England alone sitting empty, all ripe for refitting with green technologies.”</p> <br><p>The second phase of the ecotowns consultation involves a series of roadshows near the shortlisted sites.<br> <br></p>