Josh Risso-Gill comments in Construction News, PBC Today, PropertyWire and Infrastructure Now on the Government’s plans to build seven new towns

Construction of several new towns in England is one step closer, with building planned to start at three sites before the next general election takes place. 

The new towns scheme was initially unveiled in 2023, with Sir Keir Starmer pledging to deliver the 'next generation of new towns' akin to those built by former Labour Prime Minister Clement Atlee after World War Two. Out of the twelve potential sites put forward for consultation at an earlier stage, seven sites have now been given the green light by the government for further consultation. The final locations will be confirmed later this year, although plans for six further 'new town' locations proposed in the initial scheme have been dropped.  

The seven sites to be progressed further include standalone new developments, expansions of existing towns, and new developments within big cities. Additionally, ministers have pledged to set up delivery bodies to coordinate the development of these new towns. This could include making use of powers to compulsorily purchase land where agreements cannot be made with landowners. While further environmental assessments and plans are needed for each site, ministers are aiming for each location to deliver between 10 and 40 thousand homes. 

Josh Risso-Gill, Partner in our Planning, Infrastructure and Environment team, comments in Infrastructure Now, Construction News, PBC Today and PropertyWire about the changes to the Government's town-building plans.

Both nationally and in the capitol the Government is presiding over a generational low point in housing stats, with 342,100 new homes against its target of 1.5 million this Parliament. So the timing of its new towns announcement is unsurprising with the crucial imminent local elections.

"The reduction to seven from the original list of twelve new towns shows the challenges of building at scale in the UK. The government has to succeed with the new homes programme if it is to have any chance of hitting its 1.5 million target. But the challenges are significant, particularly the procurement and funding of adequate infrastructure, meeting increasingly stringent environmental and biodiversity standards and assembling the land for development.

Read the coverage in full in Construction News, PBC Today, Infrastructure Now and PropertyWire.