MHCLG announces it will back seven settlements, down from the 12 recommended by the new town’s taskforce
The government has announced the names of seven locations for proposed new towns it intends to to support through its funding programme.
The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government has today opened a consultation on proposals to back seven new towns, a lower number than the 12 suggested last year by the New Towns Taskforce.
The seven new towns include 40,000 homes built around a new east-west rail station in Tempsford, Bedfordshire, and 21,000-homes at Crews Hill and Chase Park, in Enfield, north London, along with large settlements at Leeds South bank and Manchester Victoria North.
The government is also proposing to support up to 15,000 homes at Thamesmead in Greenwich, around 40,000 homes at Milton Keynes and 40,000 homes as part of the Brabazon and West Innovation Arc, in South Gloucestershire (see box).
Proposed new towns locations
- Tempsford, Bedfordshire — up to 40,000 homes built around a new East West Rail station, linking residents to Cambridge, Oxford, London and Milton Keynes
- Crews Hill and Chase Park, Enfield — up to 21,000 homes
- Leeds South Bank, West Yorkshire — up to 20,000 homes
- Manchester Victoria North, Greater Manchester — at least 15,000 homes with a new Metrolink stop connecting residents to jobs across the city
- Thamesmead, Greenwich — up to 15,000 homes unlocking riverside land in London, enabled by the planned Docklands Light Railway extension
- Brabazon and the West Innovation Arc, South Gloucestershire — up to 40,000 homes at the heart of a research and advanced engineering economy
- Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire — a ‘renewed town’ vision to expand the city by around 40,000 homes a new local transport system, boosting connectivity in the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor
MHCLG is also proposing six ‘reasonable alternatives’ to bring forward should any of the seven not progress. These include schemes at Adlington, Lancashire, Heyford Park, near Oxford, and Marlcombe, east Devon, along with proposed settlements at Plymouth, South Barking and Wychavon Town in Worcestershire. It cited several reasons for not including these in the schemes to take forward, saying they will have less impact on economic growth, will be of smaller scale, or in the case, of south Barking, more challenging to develop.
The consultation also sets out the support the government intends to provide through its new towns programme.
It said the government will offer resources and capital finding – a mixture of grant, equity instruments, loans and guarantees – to develop masterplans and design codes, along with technical studies and business case development. It will provide funding for land acquisition and remediation and to help enable infrastructure investment.
MHCLG said it will also provide support to help development vehicles be set up, including development corporations. A ‘new towns unit’ will be set up “providing escalation and extra capacity across departments and arm’s‑length bodies”, while a ‘new towns place review panel’ to provide impartial advice to delivery bodies and planning authorities, to provide practical advice on design and planning.
Four interim advisers have been appointed to support the new towns unit. They are: Lyn Garner, former chief Eeecutive of the London Legacy Development Corporation; Ian Piper, former chief executive of the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation; Emma Cariaga, chief operating officer at British Land, and David Rudlin, founding principal of Rudlin & Co and principal author of the UK Government’s National Model Design Code.
The government also intends to publish a new towns planning policy later this year, which will include the treatment of new town proposals which involve green belt land, MHCLG’s approach to safeguarding land and the establishment of placemaking principles.
MHCLG also announced that the new Homes England National Housing Bank will launch on 1 April.
The bank, which will be able to deploy £16bn of capital, will be chaired by Homes England deputy chair Peter Vernon, while Simon Century, chief investment officer at Homes England, will be chief executive of the bank.
Steve Reed, housing secretary, said: “Our next generation of new towns marks a turning point in how we build for the future.
“From the ground up, we’re planning whole communities with homes, jobs, transport links, and green spaces designed together — so we can give families the security and opportunities they deserve.”
Sector reaction
Robert Nettleton, chief executive of Bromford Flagship LiveWest, said: “We welcome the shortlisting of Western Innovation Arc as a New Town. At a time when demand for affordable housing has never been greater this century, this is exactly the kind of ambition needed to deliver at scale and support the country’s long-term growth.”
Melanie Leech, chief executive, British Property Federation, said: “Today’s announcement is a welcome next step for this 21st century new towns programme. The sites identified will only be delivered with a combination of public and private sector expertise and given the current viability crisis, will require a laser focus on creating the right conditions to deliver housing at scale and unlock the full economic benefits that will flow from this.
“We call on the government to work with all key partners and representatives to identify and remove barriers to delivery, including infrastructure provision and connectivity, and actively promote those housing tenures, such as build to rent and single-family housing, which will accelerate delivery.”
Gavin Smart, chief executive at the Chartered Institute of Housing, said: ” CIH supports the government’s ambition to bring forward seven new towns and recognises the progress made since the initial proposals for a larger number of sites. T
“Success will depend on effective delivery - ensuring ambitions are supported by sustained investment, strong partnerships, and a clear focus on genuinely affordable homes. We look forward to engaging with the consultation to help ensure these proposals deliver high-quality homes and thriving, inclusive communities.”
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