The last generation of British new towns reshaped the fabric of British mid-20th century housing and urban development and, while contentious in many areas, was successful in its core aim of accommodating population overspill from urban areas and thereby averting a post-war housing crisis. But will the Government’s plans for a new generation of new towns do the same? 

 

Sparked by the eagerly anticipated publication last year of the New Towns Taskforce’e final report identifying 12 new settlements across England, this report – with a foreword from HRH The Duke of Gloucester – reviews the Government’s plans, compares them to historic precedents and established best practice and makes targeted recommendations aimed at maximising the programme’s chances of success.

 

The launch of this report was covered by: