How will new towns be financed? - Lords committee to investigate

At 10.45am on Tuesday 3 June 2025, the House of Lords Built Environment Committee will continue its inquiry on new towns and expanded settlements. In the sixth evidence session, the committee will hear evidence from:

• Caroline Foster, Development Director, Urban & Civic
• Melanie Leech, Chief Executive, British Property Federation (BPF)
• Charlotte Neal, Director of Professional Practice & Research, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

This session, which is open to the public, will be held in Committee Room 3 of the House of Lords and streamed live on Parliament TV.  

This session will focus on how the private sector can finance the delivery of new towns in the absence of significant financial backing from the Treasury. The committee is likely to ask about:

• How central government can encourage and support long-term, patient private investment in new towns.
• The steps central government can take to reduce the level of risk for potential private sector investors.
• Whether land value can be effectively captured to finance new towns.
• The role compulsory purchase should play in land assembly.