Building of three new towns will start before election, Labour pledges

Building of three new towns will start before election, Labour pledges

Labour has vowed to kickstart the construction of three new towns before the next general election as part of their ambitious plan to build 1.5 million new homes by 2029. Housing Secretary Steve Reed is set to unveil the details of this initiative during the upcoming Labour Party conference. Among the 12 recommended locations for development, Tempsford in Bedfordshire, Leeds South Bank, and Crews Hill in north London have been earmarked as the most promising sites.

In a bid to address the housing crisis and boost the economy, Labour is championing the concept of a “new generation of new towns,” a promise outlined in their election manifesto. These proposed developments range from large-scale standalone new communities to expansions of existing towns and regeneration schemes within cities across England. The chosen sites will undergo environmental assessments and consultations before the final locations and funding are confirmed next spring.

The government has expressed support for at least 40% of the new homes to be classified as affordable housing, reflecting a key recommendation from the New Towns Taskforce. To facilitate the development of these new towns, a dedicated New Towns Unit will be established to secure public and private sector funding for essential community amenities such as schools, GP surgeries, green spaces, and transport infrastructure. The taskforce has advised that the new towns should be delivered by development corporations, akin to the successful regeneration model seen in Stratford after the 2012 Olympic Games.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer highlighted the necessity for accessible homeownership, stating, “For so many families, homeownership is a distant dream.” He emphasized the commitment of his Labour government to cutting through barriers hindering homebuilding to create a vibrant new landscape of modern, family-friendly homes. Housing Secretary Steve Reed is expected to echo this sentiment in his address, pledging to “build baby build” and draw inspiration from Labour’s post-war housing boom to address the pressing housing challenges facing the nation

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