New Town Development Corporations (NTDCs) disappeared in 1992, having played a significant role in the UK’s economic, physical, and social development for over 40 years. They were used successfully to develop 21 new towns in England and five in Scotland, providing homes, jobs, infrastructure, and local facilities for nearly three million people today.

Post-war governments recognized the need to create attractive, affordable communities for people to live and work. They understood that market forces alone would not do this because of the scale of risk and initial investment in infrastructure needed. They passed the New Towns Act to create NTDCs—nothing since has provided a better mechanism to promote joined-up economic growth