New towns will play a vital role
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has welcomed the announcement of the proposed locations of seven new towns.
The idea is that the ambitious housebuilding programme will create well-connected new communities with homes, jobs, schools, green space and transport links all planned from the start.
Each proposed location is expected to deliver at least 10,000 homes, with several delivering 40,000 or more in the decades to come.
The locations under consideration are:
*Tempsford, Bedfordshire – up to 40,000 homes built around a new East West Rail station, linking residents to Cambridge, Oxford, London and Milton Keynes
*Crews Hill and Chase Park, Enfield – up to 21,000 homes helping to meet London’s acute housing need
*Leeds South Bank, West Yorkshire – up to 20,000 homes capitalising on the city’s economic momentum and the government’s £2.1 billion local transport investment
*Manchester Victoria North, Greater Manchester – at least 15,000 homes regenerating the heart of Greater Manchester, with a new Metrolink stop connecting residents to jobs across the city
*Thamesmead, Greenwich – up to 15,000 homes unlocking inaccessible riverside land in London, enabled by the planned Docklands Light Railway extension
*Brabazon and the West Innovation Arc, South Gloucestershire – up to 40,000 homes at the heart of a world-class research and advanced engineering economy
*Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire – building on its history as one of the original new towns, to take forward the ‘renewed town’ vision to expand the city by around 40,000 homes and reinvigorate the centre with a new local transport system, boosting connectivity in the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor
RIBA has welcomed the additional detail on the programme, including the focus on delivering affordable new homes and creating well-connected communities.
It says that new towns have the potential to play an important role in supporting long-term housing delivery, driving economic growth and connecting people to jobs, services and opportunities.
However, it stresses that success will depend on ensuring these developments are underpinned by high-quality design, strong placemaking and the infrastructure needed to support thriving communities.
Without a clear and consistent focus on design quality, there is a risk that new towns fail to meet the needs of residents over the long term.
Chris Williamson, RIBA president, said: “This is a welcome step forward in the government’s new towns programme, and we are pleased to see further detail on the proposed locations.
“New towns have real potential to support much-needed housing delivery and connect people to opportunities, jobs and services over the long-term, but only if they are well-designed – with high-quality homes, well-designed neighbourhoods, and the infrastructure and amenities people need to thrive.
“The emphasis on public transport, as well as walking and cycling infrastructure, is particularly encouraging, including proposals such as Tempsford, which is strategically located to connect key cities and support economic growth.
“But this must be matched by long-term funding and a clear commitment to good placemaking throughout the delivery of these new communities.
“We look forward to working with the government to ensure design quality is embedded at every stage of the programme.”