Overview

• The New Towns Taskforce report, published Sunday, outlines a programme of a dozen sites with at least 10,000 homes each, potentially totaling about 300,000 properties.
• Housing Secretary Steve Reed identified Tempsford in Bedfordshire, Leeds South Bank and Crews Hill in Enfield as priority locations for early construction within this Parliament.
• Officials back a target that at least 40% of homes be affordable, with about 20% designated for social housing as recommended by the taskforce.
• Plans envisage public and private investment for transport links, GP surgeries, schools and green spaces, with some sites using compulsory purchase and streamlined planning modeled on Stratford’s regeneration.
• Environmental assessments and local planning approvals are required before work can begin, and residents in areas such as Tempsford say consultation has been limited and raise flooding and heritage concerns.