More than 100 proposals for New Towns programme

The government has received more than 100 proposals for its New Towns programme “from almost every region in England” it said today (February 13), in an update to its initiative which has the potential to deliver 10,000 homes “or more” from each town.

At the half way point of a 12 month process to develop recommendations, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said in a policy paper that many of the submissions for its new towns came from London, the south east, south west, and east of England. “But multiple proposals were received from every region of England”.

However, out of the submissions, a “smaller” number are for new standalone developments, with the “majority” being for urban extensions to existing towns or cities.

MHCLG said its New Homes Task Force had set out “clear principles” on the delivery of the towns, which would direct creating well-designed communities with affordable housing, GP surgeries, schools and public transport “where people will want to live”. New towns should also include access to green spaces and nature.

The next stage of the Task Force’s work will concentrate on exploring locations for new towns, “focusing on areas ripe …