Labour has pledged to begin the construction of three new towns in England before the next general election. A taskforce has identified 12 potential locations for development, including Tempsford in Bedfordshire, Leeds South Bank, and Crews Hill in north London as the most promising sites.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed is anticipated to make the announcement during his speech at Labour’s annual party conference. The party has highlighted housebuilding as a priority in its economic strategy, committing to the construction of 1.5 million new homes by 2029.
Tempsford has a small population of around 600 and currently features about 300 houses. The local parish council chairman, David Sutton, has expressed concerns over the lack of communication from the government regarding the plans, including the number of homes expected to be built.
The promise of a new generation of towns was part of Labour’s election manifesto last year. The recommended developments vary from standalone communities to expansions of existing towns and urban regeneration efforts. Other suggested areas for development include locations in Cheshire, South Gloucestershire, East Devon, Plymouth, and Manchester.
The sites will undergo environmental assessments and community consultation, with final decisions on locations and funding expected by spring. Labour anticipates that each new town will comprise at least 10,000 homes, potentially resulting in 300,000 new homes across England in the coming decades. The government supports the recommendation from the taskforce that at least 40% of these homes be classified as affordable housing.
A New Towns Unit will be created to secure public and private funding for infrastructure, including GP surgeries, schools, green spaces, libraries, and transportation services related to these new developments. The development model will resemble that of the regeneration of Stratford during and after the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
As Labour members gather in Liverpool for their conference, Reed’s upcoming speech is his first major address since succeeding Angela Rayner as housing secretary. The conference occurs in a politically challenging context for Labour, as the party faces scrutiny over its leadership and electoral standing.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly1geen679o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss