PLANS for a much-vaunted eco-town have been criticised for not being green enough.

The firm P3Eco has put in its planning application for the first phase of the 5,000-home eco-settlement on farmland at North West Bicester, near Caversfield.

All three local councils, parish councils, the police and a host of experts have raised concerns about the plan for 393 houses, shops and offices. They claim there is a lack of biodiversity, no green jobs and too much car parking at the site for it to be considered eco-friendly.

There are also concerns plans for a school are not included in the first phase, even though a site has been identified.

Oxfordshire County Council said public transport proposals for buses every 30 minutes do not go far enough and the development fails to reach the 50 per cent target for non-car use.

In the report, County Hall said: “There is little evidence to demonstrate how this development is different from any other development of this scale.”

Thames Valley Police Authority also warned the site could be an “island of inappropriate development” because of the gloomy economy.

Alan Jones, of Oxfordshire Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE), said: “I think it has yet to prove its credentials.

“What’s being proposed could work, but what we are concerned about is it’s a very tall order to get it right and I’m not sure the consortium is going to be able to deliver.

“Our main concern with turning this out is it needs a big company with lots of resources behind them.

“It doesn’t look as if P3Eco have those resources.

“I think the aspiration is right, but we are concerned about the way it’s shaping up at the moment.”

Experts from the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust, Natural England and Cherwell District Council’s ecology officer said the proposals do not have “feel of an “exemplary eco town site”.

Meanwhile, Sport England criticised the plans for not including any playing field land and the Environment Agency raised concerns parts of the site may be at high risk of flooding.

Government watchdog the Commission for Architecture of the Built Environment, said the proposals must be more “visionary” and “fall short” of the eco mark.

P3Eco director Ian Inshaw said they were working with partners including architects Farrells and housing association A2 Dominion.

He said: “All remarks have their part to play in informing our revisions to the scheme, and in making sure that we produce a first rate development with excellent eco credentials.”

Mr Inshaw said a revised plan would be submitted in April.