other major developments under consideration include both a northern and southern bypass of the town, and significant expansion to the north, following the completed expansion to the east. the harlow north plans, currently awaiting permission, involve an extension of the town across the floodplains on the town's northern border, into neighbouring hertfordshire. the plan was supported by former mp bill rammell, all three political groups on harlow council, and the east of england regional assembly. it is opposed by hertfordshire county council, east herts council, mark prisk, mp for hertford and stortford in whose constituency the development would be, and all the parishes concerned. the opposition is coordinated by a local group based in neighbouring east hertfordshire. an attempt to have harlow north designated an "eco town" was rejected by the minister for housing, caroline flint mp, in april 2008.