The Town and Country Planning
Association (TCPA) responds to the
Housing White Paper commitment to updating the New Towns
Act.
Today – over 110 years since the first Garden City started and 70
years since the first New Town was designated – the Government
has committed to “legislate to enable the creation of
locally accountable New Town Development Corporations, enabling
local areas to use them as the delivery vehicle if they wish
to.”
Kate Henderson, TCPA Chief Executive, said:
“The Government’s pledge to update the New Towns legislation
in today’s Housing White Paper marks a huge step forward for the
TCPA’s garden cities and new towns campaign. The legislation has
a proven track record on delivery and with the right reform could
be a highly effective way of enabling local authorities to
deliver well designed homes and great local services in thriving
communities.”
“Changes to the New Towns Act will need to be accompanied by
a new approach to government investment in new development,
channelling new and existing funds to support up-front
infrastructure and affordable homes. This approach could unlock a
new generation of highly sustainable places that meet housing,
employment and quality of life needs while promoting
innovation.”
The Housing White Paper, Fixing our broken housing
market, states: To support the delivery of existing
and any future garden communities, we will:
-
ensure that decisions on infrastructure investment take
better account of the opportunities to support new and existing
communities;
-
legislate to enable the creation of locally
accountable New Town Development
Corporations, enabling local areas to use
them as the delivery vehicle if they wish to. This can
strengthen local representation and accountability, and
increase opportunities for communities to benefit from land
value capture; and
-
following the previous consultation on changes to the
National Planning Policy Framework, amend policy to encourage a
more proactive approach by authorities to bringing forward new
settlements in their plans, as one means by which housing
requirements can be addressed.
The TCPA will be analysing the detail of the measures in the
Housing White Paper and responding to the Government’s
consultation in due course.
