Shaping communities in partnership with local people will be key to New Towns success

Written by
Simon Donohue with Jermaine Lawal-Adewale 

The vital role for communities in shaping the government’s next generation New Towns is highlighted among recommendations from the New Towns Taskforce, which this week proposed 12 locations to be taken forward to consultation.

Emphasising a clear shift in the definition of a modern ‘New Town’, the eclectic mix of sites selected by the Taskforce range from standalone settlements to inner-city development, urban expansion and densification of existing communities.

Some of the sites selected are already in early-stage development, supporting the government’s aim to develop areas which will be able to deliver significant number of  homes quickly.

The legacy new towns of post-war England were largely what we would still understand today as an entirely new town - a built-up area with a name, defined boundaries, and local government, that is larger than a village and generally smaller than a city.

Whatever the name, the New Towns programme represents an excellent opportunity for government to speed up the delivery of pump-primed sites across the country, increasing the likelihood of hitting the 1.5m new homes promised this parliament.

In response to a call from government last September, the New Towns Taskforce has made 44 separate recommendations to government. This includes 10 new placemaking principles, one on community engagement.

The 12 locations proposed range from expansive greenfield sites like Adlington in Cheshire East, which benefits from consolidated land ownership and direct rail access to Manchester, to urban regeneration zones such as Manchester Victoria North and Leeds South Bank, both of which aim to transform underused city-edge brownfield land into vibrant, well-connected communities.

Brabazon in South Gloucestershire and Heyford Park in Oxfordshire leverage existing investment and infrastructure to accelerate delivery, while London-based proposals in Crews Hill in Enfield and Thamesmead Waterfront face the challenge of being on the Green Belt, where early and transparent engagement will be vital to build public trust.

Economic alignment is central: Plymouth supports defence sector expansion, Milton Keynes builds on tech and AI growth, and Marlcombe in East Devon complements clean energy and research clusters. Worcestershire Parkway and Tempsford are strategically placed at rail junctions, enabling infrastructure-first development and regional connectivity.

Across all twelve, ambitions for 40% affordable housing, sustainability, and placemaking excellence demand meaningful dialogue with residents, businesses, and local authorities. These proposals are not solely about building homes, but co-creating places that reflect local identity, meet real needs, and earn long-term public support.

Recommended sites share core characteristics. They are at larger scale than those currently being delivered without government intervention, where the role of the government in driving design standards, accelerating planning and facilitating early investment in social and economic infrastructure can have the biggest impact.

Other recommendations include the need for planning policy reform, the power of development corporations in delivering these ambitions, and need for significant investment in infrastructure. 

Stressing the importance of communications and engagement with community stakeholders, the Taskforce states: “New towns should establish clear and effective ways to engage the local community in shaping the vision and proposals for their town, and empower residents to build social capital and help define the town’s cultural identity.”

It’s a point which cannot be overly emphasised. The diverse mix of proposed locations includes both places where entirely new communities will be formed, and locations where the existing needs of the local community cannot be ignored.

In some instances, there will be people queuing for homes that simply don’t exist, in areas with demand for the skills they have to offer. Building with purpose for people and communities with a clear view of the type of place they would like to live will ensure that the New Towns strategy is a success.