Where will the government build the 'next generation' of new towns?

The sites for the first of the government’s promised new towns will be recommended by the summer, with construction on up to 12 new towns to be underway by the next election.

The “next generation” of new towns are part of the government’s promise to build 1.5million new homes, with the government’s task force also saying the new towns could help adults stop living with their parents.

Councils have submitted more than 100 proposals for new towns, but most are likely to be extensions of existing towns, with the government’s taskforce admitting they received a “small number of proposals for new standalone settlements”.

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Being near existing towns and transport links could be a benefit, said Christopher Martin, head of urban design at Urban Movement and vice chair of Living Streets.

“Building quality homes in the correct places – in urban areas with sustainable connectivity to opportunity and leisure – is the key. Too often, and most often, in the UK we are building homes in the wrong place, locking people into transport poverty for a generation,” said Martin

This is often down to a failure of government, Martin added: “Part of the reason is that we’re not building homes any more as a nation. Council’s are not building homes to deliver maximum public value, we’re asking the private sector to deliver homes and they’re doing so to deliver maximum private value.”

Each new town could contain 10,000 new homes, with the bulk of proposals so far coming from London, the South East, South West and East of England.

In an update, the New Towns Taskforce said it would be recommending the specific sites for the new developments in the summer.

Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark, said: “All too often sizable developments can be built without reasonable supporting arrangements.

“It is encouraging to hear that sustaining infrastructure, such as education and health facilities, will be closely integrated within the master plan for each proposed town.”

Along with getting houses built, the new programme will focus on creating communities with access to schools, healthcare and a balance of affordable homes.

India Gerritsen, researcher at IPPR North, said: “New towns offer an exciting opportunity to reimagine what a place can be – led by citizens and with public services and transport designed to serve everyone, and a focus on what really matters, like children and beautiful green spaces. Where people are empowered and have a stake in local assets, community pride and public support will follow”.

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