The government has received over 100 proposals for its new towns plan as the housing minister says that work will begin on them in the next four years.
A taskforce has been set up to examine the options after the government asked for expressions of interest from councils, developers and landowners. The government says that the majority of proposals are to extend existing towns and cities, while a smaller number of standalone new settlements have also been received.
Speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme, Matthew Pennycook said that he expects the new towns programme to contribute to housing numbers in this parliament, helping the government work towards its target of 1.5 million homes.
According to the government, each new town would need to consist of well-designed, beautiful communities with affordable housing, GP surgeries, schools and public transport where people will want to live. The New Towns Taskforce will also prioritise access to open green spaces and nature in its criteria.
Prime minister, Keir Starmer, said: For so many families, homeownership is a distant dream. After a decade of decline in housebuilding, the impact is a disconnect between working hard and getting on.”
“This is about more than just bricks and mortar. It’s about the security and stability that owning your own home brings. I know what this means for working people – the roof above our head was everything for our family growing up.”
“We’ve already made progress in just seven months, unblocking 20,000 stuck homes. But there’s more to do.”
“We’re urgently using all levers available to build the homes we need so more families can get on the housing ladder. We’re sweeping aside the blockers to get houses built, no longer accepting no as the default answer, and paving the way for the next generation of new towns.”
Deputy prime minister and secretary of state for housing, Angela Rayner said: “While our vision for the next generation of new towns is setting the stage for a housebuilding revolution in the years to come, urgent action is needed now to build the homes and infrastructure that our local communities are crying out for. That’s why our New Homes Accelerator is working at pace to find solutions and remove blockages in the system, executing long-lasting solutions to get spades in the ground.”
“Today we are embarking on the next chapter in our Plan for Change to build 1.5 million new homes, delivering the biggest boost in social and affordable housing in a generation, and raising living standards for working people and families across the country.”
The proposed sites have not been revealed, but the most popular regions for submissions have been London, the South East, the South West and the East of England. Expressions of interest were received from every region. Matthew Pennycook said that he expected some of the construction would take place on greenfield or undeveloped land, but also said that there would be “big expansions of existing towns and cities where that is appropriate”.
