An initial 12 locations named last September have now become seven for the new towns shortlist.
聽A public consultation on proposed locations and draft planning policy is open until 18th May and final locations will be confirmed later this year.
Most of the locations are not new towns at all, just dense infill in existing cities, including Leeds, Manchester and London. 聽Each location is expected to deliver at least 10,000 homes, with several delivering up to 40,000.
The government is promoting the development of new towns as a key plank in its economic growth strategy.聽
The proposed locations are:
- Tempsford, Bedfordshire 鈥� 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 鈥� up to 21,000 homes in north London
- Leeds South Bank, West Yorkshire 鈥� up to 20,000 homes to support the city centre
- Manchester Victoria North 鈥� at least 15,000 homes for inner-city development and densification in Manchester
- Thamesmead, Greenwich 鈥� up to 15,000 homes in southeast London enabled by the planned Docklands Light Railway extension
- Brabazon and the West Innovation Arc, South Gloucestershire 鈥� up to 40,000 homes at the heart of a world-class research and advanced engineering economy
- Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire 鈥� expansion of one of the original new towns by around 40,000 homes and a new local transport system.
For some of these locations, but not all, new development corporations will be formed.
Housing secretary Steve Reed said: 鈥淥ur next generation of new towns marks a turning point in how we build for the future. 聽聽From the ground up, we鈥檙e planning whole communities with homes, jobs, transport links, and green spaces designed together 鈥� so we can give families the security and opportunities they deserve.鈥�
The five locations that are no longer being considered are:
- Adlington, Cheshire East
- Heyford Park, Cherwell (former RAF base)
- Marlcombe, East Devon
- Densified development in Plymouth
- Expanded development at Worcestershire Parkway, Wychavon.
However, while these five will not be taken forward under the new towns programme, they are still deemed to be 鈥榗redible development opportunities鈥�, the government said, and may continue to be supported through existing housing programmes.
Alongside the new towns consultation, the government has also confirmed today that the National Housing Bank will launch on 1st April, backed by up to 拢16bn of financial capacity and with a target to deliver more than 500,000 new homes.聽
The government has also confirmed additional support worth up to 拢400m over the next decade for subsidised products. It says that this will enable both the National Housing Bank and regional mayors to issue loans and investments at lower interest rates and unlock house-building across the country.
Chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves said: 鈥淔or decades this country鈥檚 planning system has been a direct obstacle to building new homes, ramping up costs and pricing young people out of the housing market. Two years ago, I promised that we would grasp the nettle of planning reform. Now we鈥檙e planning to build a new generation of new towns, opening up the expansion of our most dynamic cities and raise up new communities. Our economic plan is the right one. Through stability, investment and reform we are building a stronger and more secure economy.鈥�
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