The new towns programme could transform lives – it must not be kicked into the long grass

(Greg Balfour Evans / Alamy)

Lord Gascoigne

New Towns: Laying the Foundations looks closely at what needs to be in place in order for the government’s new towns programme to realise its full potential. I am incredibly proud of the way in which it deftly complements and expands upon the work of the New Towns Taskforce, which was so expertly stewarded by Sir Michael Lyons to recommend 12 potential locations for this next generation of new towns.  

It is a testament to the extraordinary success of so many of the post-war new towns that their legacy continues to inform housing policy in this country some 80 years since the programme was first developed. They transformed the lives of countless families and have embedded themselves in the fabric of British society. Nonetheless, subsequent attempts to replicate the success of the post-war programme have almost invariably come unstuck, with projects suffering from poor planning, underinvestment, and a lack of vision; few have ever got beyond the planning stage.  

For the incoming Labour government, therefore, to give such prominence to its own new towns programme was a clear indication that it was determined to explore every avenue not only to build the homes we desperately need but to also create thriving and strong communities across the country. The committee was determined both to support the programme, but also to act as a genuine critical friend to ensure that it actually gets off the ground. We recognised that we had a genuine opportunity to learn from past missteps and deliver thriving communities where people can build successful futures. 

This report marks the culmination of the first module of our long inquiry into the new towns programme. In this initial report, we focused on the legal, financial, and governance frameworks that need to be in place before any construction and placemaking can begin. We heard from voices across the sector and beyond – academics, professionals, and passionate members of the public alike. Their insights have been invaluable in helping the committee distil the essential ingredients for successful new towns.  

The most important of these ingredients for success is strong leadership. There must be a dedicated minister at the heart of Government, crucially one senior enough to bring the Treasury to the table with the ability to drive this agenda, day in, day out. There also needs to be a central agency with responsibility for advising and supporting the minister and overseeing the day-to-day aspects of delivery. This leadership needs to be underpinned by a clear vision embedded within a coherent national strategy for growth and regeneration. This will require long term strategic thinking and sustained government and private investment over several decades.  

There is a real risk that the programme is kicked into the long grass

As a committee, we know that the programme is now at a critical juncture. We are concerned that, with so much of the preparatory work outsourced to independent bodies, there is a real risk that the programme is kicked into the long grass. That is why we are determined not to let up and have already launched our next module, looking at how we actually create communities in these new towns.  

This is an exciting and crucial endeavour. We are grateful to everyone who has taken part in our work, through evidence sessions and written submissions. We also pay tribute to the government for initiating this agenda after winning the election and are grateful for the engagement we have received from the government, especially from ministers Pennycook and Taylor. We are determined to continue to play our part and support the government to make the programme a success.

Lord Gascoigne is a Conservative peer and chair of the Built Environment Committee

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