Villagers said the homes were not in keeping with the area

Developers want to put almost 6,000 homes at Grovewood in South Derbyshire, and a similar number at New Kingston near Gotham in Nottinghamshire.

They said the settlements, which would produce much of their own power, would benefit from nearby transport links and an improved jobs market.

But objectors claim building on green belt was not environmentally sound.

The government has said it wants to build ten carbon-neutral towns of 5,000 to 20,000 houses across England.

Carbon-neutral

Spokesman David Gosling, of Banks Developments, who are behind the latest scheme, said the locations were very suitable.

"The reasons why we think these are good sites is that they are close to where jobs are being created around East Midlands Airport.

"It is close to the M1 and close to where a new railway station is going to be built."

Some residents of New Kingston said the area would be overwhelmed by the development and the design of the homes did not fit in.

While the developers said the energy efficient homes could be up to 20% more expensive to build, around 30% would still be allocated in the affordable homes category.