Locations of Twelve New Towns Identified

TWELVE NEW towns across England have been announced by the government, with at least three built in this Parliament.

It follows publication of a report by the New Towns Taskforce recommending 12 locations and on delivery and implementation. First to start building are Tempsford, a village in Bedfordshire, Crews Hill a suburb of north London, and South Bank in a suburb of Leeds.

So far in this parliament, 120,000 new homes have been built, which is around half of the highest annual number built in the last decade.

A New Towns Unit will aim to ensure new towns “are a test bed for innovation” and to unblock barriers to delivery.

The New Towns Taskforce, led by Sir Michael Lyons, explored various approaches to large-scale development. In its report, the taskforce has recommended a mixture of large-scale communities including urban extensions, urban regeneration, and standalone greenfield sites.

It says each new town should have at least 10,000 homes with at least 40% affordable housing, half of which will be for social rent.

Environmental Assessment

A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of developing new towns before a final decisions on locations is made.

The government will be looking for assurance that any location can be effectively and efficiently delivered in partnership with local communities, has a clear economic purpose, and will support economic growth.

Delivery vehicles will be tested to learn lessons for how future large settlements are delivered and to contribute to a wider transformation of housing supply.

The government will publish the draft proposals and final SEA for consultation in spring,

The 12 recommended locations are:

• A standalone settlement in Adlington, Cheshire East; to serve the growing industries in Greater Manchester and Cheshire, as identified in the government’s Industrial Strategy.
• A corridor of connected development in South Gloucestershire, across Brabazon and the West Innovation Arc; building in one of the highest productivity areas in the country with a high value research, advanced engineering and technology economy.
• An expanded development bringing together Chase Park and Crews Hill in Enfield; delivering green development and helping address London’s acute housing need.
• Redevelopment of the former airbase at Heyford Park in Cherwell, connecting to Oxford.
• Urban development in Leeds in the South Bank to support the city centre.
• Inner-city development and densification in Manchester, Victoria North to service the city’s industries.
• A standalone settlement in Marlcombe, East Devon supporting the Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone.
• A ‘Renewed Town’ in Milton Keynes expanding to the north and east plus a Mass Rapid Transit system.
• Densified development in Plymouth in Ocean City and serving HMNB Devonport, Western Europe’s largest naval base.
• A new settlement in Tempsford, Central Bedfordshire connecting to East West Rail in the heart of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor.
• The creation of a riverside settlement in Thamesmead, Greenwich; unlocking inaccessible land and connecting to the proposed extension of the Docklands Light Railway if it can be delivered to enable the development.
• Expanded development at Worcestershire Parkway, Wychavon around the existing railway station.

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