The source said: "The issue is not the schemes that are currently up and running, but the replicability of the communities as a benchmark for future developments."
A spokesperson for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister refused to disclose when the review would be published.
Of the review, he said: "It's about time to have a look at how the millennium communities are operating, to make sure they are still on track."
Alan Cherry, chairman of Countryside Properties, which part-built the village in Greenwich, south-east London, supported the decision to look at the programme.
He said: "Things have moved on since the original concept and lots of lessons have been learned. The review gives an opportunity to see how we've moved on – the focus now should be on sustainable communities, not millennium communities."
The review follows a troubled history for the first two millennium villages, in Greenwich and Allerton Bywater, Yorkshire.
The Greenwich scheme was marred by the sacking of architect HTA from the project team – the practice subsequently took legal action against the development team, which has since been settled.
Things have moved on since the original concept and lessons have been learned
Alan Cherry, Countryside Properties
The scheme has since proved to be a success – plans emerged last year to double it from 1377 homes to 2500.
Deputy prime minister John Prescott intended the £60m Allerton Bywater scheme to be an exemplar sustainable development in the north of England. But the project, on a reclaimed colliery site, has suffered a series of delays in the past two years, because of concern from the local community over the adventurous housing designs.
Work is now about to start on site but some observers feel the scheme is less innovative – one described it as now looking like a "souped-up housing estate".
No comments yet