UK to start building three new towns before next election - Reed

UK to start building three new towns before next election - Reed

The UK government is poised to announce the construction of three new towns as part of its housing strategy, according to Housing Secretary Steve Reed. The plans, to be unveiled at Labour's annual party conference, are aimed at addressing the country's housing crisis and stimulating economic growth.

The New Towns Taskforce has recommended 12 locations in England for development, with three areas—Tempsford in Bedfordshire, Leeds South Bank, and Crews Hill in north London—identified as the most promising sites. These new towns are expected to have at least 10,000 homes each and collectively contribute to the government's goal of building 1.5 million new homes by 2029 .

The government has welcomed the taskforce's recommendation that at least 40% of these new homes should be classed as affordable housing. A New Towns Unit will be tasked with securing millions of pounds in public and private sector funding to invest in local services such as GP surgeries, schools, green spaces, libraries, and transport for the new developments.

The taskforce has recommended that new towns be delivered by development corporations, which could have special planning powers to compulsory purchase land, invest in local services, and grant planning permission. This approach follows the model of the regeneration of Stratford in east London during and after the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games .

The announcement comes as Labour members gather in Liverpool for the party's annual conference, marking Housing Secretary Steve Reed's first major speech since taking over from Angela Rayner. Reed is expected to promise to "build baby build" while "taking lessons from the post-war Labour government housing boom" .

The construction of these new towns is part of Labour's broader vision to stimulate the economy through housebuilding. However, the industry has warned that the government faces significant challenges in reaching its target, with housebuilders facing pressures including rising costs and taxes. Recent figures showed the number of planning approvals for new homes in England fell to a record low during Labour's first year in office .

The government's plans for new towns are expected to be subject to environmental assessments and public consultation, with final locations and funding confirmed next spring. The chosen sites will range from large-scale standalone new communities to expansions of existing towns and regeneration schemes within cities .