With new homes numbering from 10,000 to 40,000, the locations include entirely new locations and expansions to old ones
The new towns are set to have a design policy promoting and facilitating modern life, with quality transport links, green spaces, and spacious high streets.
As well as the seven locations, four interim advisers have been appointed to support the New Towns Unit.
The seven locations are as follows:
- 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, and utilising government’s £2.1 billion local transport investment
- Manchester Victoria North, Greater Manchester: At least 15,000 homes and a new Metrolink stop
- Thamesmead, Greenwich: Up to 15,000 utilising the planned Docklands Light Railway extension
- Brabazon and the West Innovation Arc, South Gloucestershire: Up to 40,000 homes
- Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire: A ‘renewed town’ to expand the city by around 40,000 homes and with a new local transport system for the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor
The delivery of these new towns would potentially be supported by new purpose-built development corporations.
The four advisers appointed to support the New Towns Unit are:
- Lyn Garner, former chief executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation;
- Ian Piper, former chief executive of the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation;
- Emma Cariaga, chief operating officer of British Land;
- David Rudlin, founding principal of Rudlin & Co and principal author of the UK Government’s National Model Design Code
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said: “For decades this country’s planning system has been a direct obstacle to building new homes, ramping up costs and pricing young people out of the housing market.
“Two years ago, I promised that we would grasp the nettle of planning reform. Now we’re planning to build a new generation of new towns, opening up the expansion of our most dynamic cities and raise up new communities.
“Our economic plan is the right one. Through stability, investment and reform we are building a stronger and more secure economy.”
A cut down from original plans
The New Towns Taskforce released their first report in September last year, where they originally recommended 12 locations for new towns, meaning five locations have been cut:
- Adlington, Cheshire East – A standalone development
- Heyford Park, Cherwell – Redeveloping a former airbase
- Marlcombe, East Devon – A standalone development
- Plymouth – A densified development
- Worcestershire Parkway, Wychavon – An expanded development
It is likely that these developments were deemed unviable in comparison to the seven, supported by the two standalone developments having been cut. These would need fresh infrastructure, including water and power systems, schools, links and roads, and more.
The redevelopment of the former airbase in Cherwell is somewhat more surprising, however, and calls into question the government’s commitment to prioritising brownfield and grey-belt land.
The cutting of the Worcestershire Parkway, Wychavon, has also been somewhat offset by the expansion of homes in Wychavon Town, another new town. Homes England announced the boost of 5,500 homes in the town centre and the south in January.
Commenting on the cutting of several locations, Josh Risso-Gill, partner in the Planning, Infrastructure and Environment team of international law firm Charles Russell Speechlys, said: “Both nationally and in the capitol the Government is presiding over a generational low point in housing starts, with 342,100 new homes against its target of 1.5 million this Parliament. So the timing of its new towns announcement is unsurprising with the crucial imminent local elections.
“In London, where funding and development costs has virtually stopped housebuilding, two new ‘towns’ are set to deliver 36,000 new homes – eventually. The reduction to seven from the original list of twelve new towns shows the challenges of building at scale in the UK. The Government has to succeed with the new homes programme if it is to have any chance of hitting its 1.5 million target. But the challenges are significant, particularly the procurement and funding of adequate infrastructure, meeting increasingly stringent environmental and biodiversity standards and assembling the land for development.
“For example, despite being allocated as a new settlement for more than 10,000 new homes in the local plan some years ago, the Chelmsford Garden Community remains unbuilt. For the Government to claim that three of the new town projects will be underway by 2029 seems wildly optimistic.”
