Lords built environment committee launches inquiry into new towns

The House of Lords built environment committee has launched an inquiry into new towns.

The government has made new towns a major part of its policy agenda for housing, aiming to have up to 12 under construction by the next election.

More than 100 potential locations have already been identified in England and submitted to a taskforce charged with developing the policy.

The committee’s inquiry will look into whether new towns and expanded settlements are an effective means of delivering housing and, if so, how they can be delivered successfully.

It will consider the role of local, regional and central government and examine what effect devolution could have on delivery, as well as looking at the potential role of the private sector and alternative funding models. 

Committee chair Lord Gascoigne said: “The UK has a chronic housing shortage and, like its predecessors, the new Government has very ambitious housebuilding targets to address these shortages. It is hoping that these new towns can make a contribution to solving the nation’s housing shortage.

>> Read more: Work on first new towns to ‘start within four years’ says Pennycook as 100 proposals submitted 

“Our initial inquiry will focus on practical delivery and seek to understand the legal, political, and economic channels through which new and expanded settlements can be successfully delivered.

“To inform our work we want to hear from as broad a range of people as possible. If you have a view on any aspect of our inquiry, look at our call for evidence and let us know what you think.”