The programme will see more high quality homes built
and green spaces created, expanding on government’s
plans for more locally-led developments.
The garden towns push in England is part of
government’s clear ambition to build 300,000 homes a
year by the mid-2020s.
Councils across England and private developers who have
secured support from local authorities will be able to
apply for a place on the programme.
The winning bidders will receive tailored advice and
potential grant funding for help with staffing or
environmental assessments; part of the planning process
for new garden towns.
Communities Secretary Rt Hon MP said:
This plan is about the government working with
councils and developers to get great homes in keeping
with beautiful areas in England.
We want to help local authorities build strong and
vibrant communities where people want to live, work,
and raise families.
Our garden communities programme already has the
potential to provide over 200,000 new homes by 2050,
and we want to go further.
Strong community involvement and engagement will be at
the heart of judging garden community proposals;
ensuring developments reflect local character while
also designing beautiful green spaces near homes.
Garden communities can take the form of new villages,
towns or cities and have the potential to deliver well
designed homes at an increased scale, with projects
ranging in size from 10,000 to 40,000 homes.
This prospectus is
the latest step by government to get Britain building,
with 23 locally-led garden communities already
receiving funding support, with the potential to
deliver over 200,000 homes by 2050.
The launch today signals the start of a 3 month
application process, with successful garden community
proposals being announced later in the New Year.
Last year 217,000 homes were built, marking the biggest
increase in housing supply in England for almost a
decade.
