• Unlock potential economic growth
• Accelerate housing delivery
• Provide housing for strong communities (i.e. with infrastructure, services and amenities)
• Create environmentally resilient places, and
• Contribute to transforming the way that large settlements are delivered.

The difference between these New Towns and the previous government’s garden towns and communities is reflected in the Taskforce’s requirements for higher density development – that will enable residents to walk to local amenities. Evidence shows that higher density development is linked to healthier outcomes – through more active residents - but is also the way to ensure viable local services, facilities, and public transport are maintained.

This requires a bold vision, and would help to dispel the concerns raised by Transport for New Homes in relation to the sustainability of new settlements. The majority of submissions have been for urban extensions so it will be interesting to see how these could deliver higher densities than the existing edges of towns and cities.

Limitations on public spending

We have had some additional clues as to how the aims for these New Towns might be delivered. The government is already exploring the structures and financial models of delivery, including the potential for land value capture, Locally-led Urban Development Corporations (LUDCs) or changes to policy such as the expansion of National Strategic Infrastructure Projects. 

What is perhaps now becoming clearer is that these proposals will be substantive. Ministers have referred to large future populations and also that the housing delivered may be additional to those required in emerging local plans. 

The Taskforce is using more than 50 metrics to assess the submissions. It’s clear that long-term funding and patient capital will be required as early delivery of services, facilities, social and green infrastructure are considered vital. 

Whilst numerous candidate sites have been submitted - 100 sites are referenced - the likelihood is that there will only be a small number of new towns that emerge from the process.  

The limitations on public spending and other resource constraints means that in practical terms, focusing on a smaller number of the most deliverable sites is likely to be more successful at improving housing delivery than a more extensive process.

Location is key

Key to any successful submission will be location. ‘Re-new’ Towns, urban extensions, brownfield and greenfield sites are all up for consideration, as long as strong economic growth is deliverable and these are not just commuter-towns – although wider sustainable travel will be important and we know that a number of the proposed New Towns are likely to be based around new train stations.

Lastly, environmental issues will be important – and not just impacts on the environment which will need to be minimal (with net biodiversity gains, net zero carbon targets and flooding all being considered), but the availability of water and power.

New Towns are clearly not the only component needed to drive the delivery of homes so desperately needed across the country, but an important part. Following this interim 6 month report from the Taskforce, we wait with anticipation for its final report in July. It remains to be seen whether any ‘fast track’ planning in principle regimes can be established to enable Ministerial ambitions to realise some housing delivery from New Towns in this Parliament. 

To read the full interim update from the New Towns Taskforce, this link will take you to the relevant MHCLG webpage.

Further information

Contact Andrew Raven or David Bainbridge