Housebuilder hopes raised as government pledges 200k homes in new town scheme Property Housebuilders are hoping for a boom in construction after the government pledged nearly 200,000 new homes as part of its new town programme, though it has cut five potential sites from its shortlist. Labour’s housing and communities department is billing the scheme as the most ambitious housebuilding plan in the last 50 years, with seven [...]
Starmer’s new towns plans blasted for ‘lacking vision’ Property The Lords’ Built Environment Committee has criticised the government’s current vision for new towns, calling for a clearer and more community-focused strategy. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer plans to build up to 12 new towns across the UK, with each settlement having the potential for at least 10,000 homes. Work on the towns is expected [...]
‘A good first step’: Construction industry largely in support of the planning bill Property The government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill entered Parliament yesterday, March 11, and has already provoked strong responses from the construction industry. So far, these responses have been largely positive, with praise for the government’s efforts to streamline the UK’s overstretched and over-regulated planning system. Stuart Evans, partner and head of planning at Anthony Collins, said there [...]
New towns: Why Starmer needs to avoid being a cowboy builder… February 18, 2025 Promises can be a tricky thing in politics. Just look at the flack Nick Clegg received for pledging to scrap tuition fees, and then, well, not. Similarly, putting Partygate aside, I suspect Boris Johnson isn’t exactly fondly remembered as PM by those voters living in areas promised one of his 40 new hospitals. While some [...]
We need more new towns like Brent Cross – but we need them in the right places September 25, 2024 Brent Cross is London's newest park town. Its proximity to London has been crucial to making it a success, writes Tom Goodall
Danger! Labour want all our new homes to be ugly August 9, 2024 Labour thinks it's 'ridiculous' to consider beauty when building new homes and towns. That's a travesty, says James Price
How realistic is Labour’s plan to reform the planning system? July 9, 2024 Labour has promised to move fast and break things to get Britain building again, but will their plan actually work?