Next generation of new towns, including Milton Keynes, could fail without clear leadership, says House of Lords

Today (Thursday March 26) the House of Lords Built Environment Committee published ‘New Towns: Creating Communities’, the second report of the committee’s inquiry into the Government’s new towns programme.

In its report the committee repeats its calls for the establishment of a single, autonomous central body, reporting to a dedicated Cabinet-level minister, to coordinate departments, steward quality and manage new town assets over the long term.

Earlier this week the government confirmed Milton Keynes was one of seven locations earmarked for an official New Town — a plan that will impose up to 40,000 additional homes on the city, on top of the 60,000 already in the Local Plan. Already local Conservative councillors have expressed concerns that there is neither the infrastructure nor the investment needed to support this many new residents.

Now the House of Lords committee is urging the Government to set out and champion a “clear, galvanising vision”, rooted in opportunity and quality of life, so the programme can sustain public, political and investor support over the decades to come.

One of the report’s conclusions is that new towns should drive inclusive growth, reduce spatial inequalities and act as exemplars of modern, healthy, sustainable living. The continued emphasis on delivering housing units is not enough to give the programme meaning and create thriving and successful communities.

In addition to prioritising walkable neighbourhoods, high quality public spaces, and biodiversity, the new towns should incorporate diverse plot sizes and reuse existing structures as much as possible, drawing on the local landscape and heritage to create distinct identities.

Lord Gascoigne, Chair of the Built Environment Committee, said:“The new towns programme needs a compelling national vision. There has to be strong national leadership, clear coordination across government, all supporting delivery on the ground at the local level to create sustainable, flourishing communities for the decades ahead.

“The purpose of the new towns programme must go beyond just meeting housing numbers. People need to be able to thrive, rather than simply survive, in these new towns; that means that these new towns have to be accessible, age-friendly and safe.

“Now that the Government has set out the locations of seven new towns that will be considered and confirmed the launch of the National Housing Bank, it needs to tell the country how it is going to deliver these new places.”

Other findings and recommendations include embedding opportunities for active travel, green/blue infrastructure and social spaces that support physical and mental wellbeing. The towns should also embed the principles of the NHS 10‑Year Health Plan, says the report.

There must be adequate funding up-front for social, health, and green infrastructure (including temporary, flexible community spaces).

The report states: “Engagement needs to start even before any sites are formally designated and it must empower communities, especially young people, to make an active contribution to the planning process.”

It concludes: “Delivering any new towns at all while local planning capacity is so constrained will be an enormous challenge; delivering high quality, sustainable, and thriving communities of the kind the committee calls for in this report will be almost impossible under such constraints.”