Work on new towns to begin by 2029, housing minister says
After more than 100 locations in England, working in many new towns will be carried out before the next election, Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook has promised.
Most of the recommendations are for the expansion of existing towns or cities, as well as suggestions for new independent settlements.
The goal is to have at least 10,000 homes per new town, leading to a 1.5 million workforce that has been promised to be built in 2029.
Ministers said each new town will include affordable housing as well as infrastructure such as transportation, GP surgery, schools and green spaces.
Building a new generation of new towns is a key element of the government’s long-term construction plan and part of its efforts to release economic growth.
More than 100 potential locations across England have been inspected after the government asked the Council, housing developers and landowners to provide expressions of interest.
The sites have not been disclosed, but London, southeast, southwest and east England have proven to be the most popular – although there are expressions of interest in each region.
During the summer, the working group will identify specific locations as well as funding options, with the hope of building at the first location at the start of the next election.
PennyCook told BBC Radio 4’s Today plan to build “well-designed, affordable, attractive homes” that will eventually “like the post-war wave of new towns, which will inhabit millions.”
He described it as a “transformative plan” that he expects to “contribute to housing figures in parliament”.
But, he admitted in his speech at Sky News: “These things take time to get started. No one pretends that the new town plan will form the majority of the 1.5 million numbers.
“We rely on other changes we have made, including overhauling the national planning policy framework to get the new website through.”
He said he expected some construction on Greenfield land, but would also “a substantial expansion of existing towns, which is appropriate.”
“As I said, there has to be sustainable places, they have to have good connections, carefully designed.”
