A new report by the New Towns Taskforce, established by the government in July 2024, has made a number of recommendations to the government to support its planned programme of new town development.
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CIHT welcomes the recently published report by the New Towns Taskforce, established by the government in July 2024, has made a number of recommendations to the government to support its planned programme of new town development.
The report outlines a model for new towns, including ten key principles of placemaking. These include recommendations that new town developments are vision led, having a clear long-term vision for creating a well-designed and distinctive place, and that transport connectivity ensures access to skills, jobs, services and amenities through high quality public transport, walking and cycling networks within each town and convenient connections into wider transport networks.
The New Towns Taskforce report and the government’s initial response can be read here.
CIHT believes these underlying principles are essential to the creation of healthy, sustainable places that provide alternatives to private car use.
We welcome the UK Government’s response to the report, confirming its support for the placemaking approach recommended by the Taskforce.
The government has also confirmed it plans to begin development on three new towns before the end of this parliament.
The 12 locations recommended by the task force for new towns are:
A standalone settlement in Adlington, Cheshire East.
A corridor of connected development in South Gloucestershire, across Brabazon and the West Innovation Arc.
An expanded development bringing together Chase Park and Crews Hill, Enfield.
Redevelopment of the former airbase at Heyford Park, Cherwell.
Urban development in Leeds.
Inner-city development and densification in Manchester, Victoria North.
A standalone settlement in the Marlcombe, East Devon.
A ‘Renewed Town’ in Milton Keynes.
Densified development in Plymouth.
A new settlement in Tempsford, Central Bedfordshire.
The creation of a riverside settlement in Thamesmead, Greenwich.
Expanded development at Worcestershire Parkway, Wychavon.
The report was commissioned by the government in September 2024 to identify specific locations for new towns and to make recommendations on how they might be designed and delivered, with a particular focus on unlocking economic growth as well as making a significant contribution to meeting housing demand in England.
Since 1945, 32 new towns have been established, housing approximately 2.8 million people. although no new towns have been designated in the last 55 years, the potential of new towns to help deliver large-scale housing sites has featured prominently in the government’s plans to deliver 1.5 million new homes by the end of this parliament.
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