The government has taken a major step towards addressing the country’s housing crisis by announcing support for the next generation of new towns through its latest policy paper, ‘Building new towns for the future’. The initiative, guided by the New Towns Taskforce, is set to play a crucial role in tackling the housing shortage, boosting economic growth, and creating sustainable communities across England.
The New Towns Taskforce, an independent expert advisory panel established by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in September 2024, is halfway through its 12-month mandate to provide recommendations on the location and delivery of these new developments. By this summer, the Taskforce will present a shortlist of proposed sites to government ministers, marking a significant milestone in the project.
The government has now confirmed that new towns will be a priority in the upcoming Spending Review, ensuring financial support for what is expected to be a transformative programme.
Strong demand and public engagement
The New Towns Taskforce launched a national call for evidence to help identify potential development locations. Over 100 site proposals were received, with the highest concentration in London, the South East, the South West, and the East of England. While many proposals focused on urban extensions to existing towns and cities, several standalone settlements were also submitted. This significant response highlights widespread enthusiasm for the initiative, with local authorities, developers, and communities eager to be part of the programme.
The objectives of the New Towns Programme
The Taskforce has outlined several key objectives to ensure the success of the new towns:
- Unlocking Economic Growth: Enhancing labour mobility, creating job opportunities, and stimulating local economies where housing shortages currently pose barriers to growth.
- Accelerating Housing Delivery: Ensuring a mix of housing tenures, including affordable and high-quality social housing, to support diverse communities.
- Building Strong Communities: Integrating essential infrastructure such as schools, healthcare facilities, transport networks, and recreational spaces to create vibrant, sustainable living environments.
- Promoting Environmental Sustainability: Supporting the government’s net-zero agenda through eco-friendly design, green infrastructure, and responsible development practices.
- Transforming Housing Development: Reforming how large-scale settlements are planned and delivered, ensuring long-term sustainability and efficiency.
Each new town is expected to accommodate at least 10,000 homes, with the potential for significantly larger developments where feasible. This represents a scale of housebuilding beyond what the private sector is currently achieving independently and offers a system-wide approach to delivering much-needed homes.
What’s next?
Construction on some sites is expected to begin before the end of this Parliament, making the new towns initiative one of the most ambitious housing projects in recent years.
The Taskforce is developing its recommendations alongside the government’s ten-year infrastructure plan and wider industrial strategy. It is working closely with other government departments, which will be crucial for the success of the implementation of the new town.
In addition, the Taskforce will run a series of events to understand what the public thinks the core components of new towns should be and to further test the principles published today. This will help ensure that new towns are grounded in the views and experiences of those who live there.
By summer 2025, the Taskforce will submit a final report to MHCLG ministers. The report will include a list of potential locations for new towns and wider recommendations on funding and delivery of new towns.