Morning, Tuesday, 9th December 2025
Online
This conference will examine progress, practicalities and next steps for implementation of government plans for delivering new towns in England, following the publication of the New Towns Taskforce’s final report and initial Government response.
Delegates will assess next steps for progressing new towns, with the locations of the 12 proposed sites in England recently announced by the Taskforce - including identification of three sites which at this stage government feels look most promising at Tempsford, Leeds South Bank and Crews Hill in London - as well as draft proposals and Strategic Environmental Assessments expected to be published by government for confirmed sites in spring, with each site expected to deliver at least 10,000 homes.
Policy & considerations for implementation
The discussion will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to assess the way forward for the programme, including sequencing considerations, phasing of infrastructure, and the capacity of local delivery bodies to support developments at the scale envisaged. Discussion will draw on insights from previous programmes, as well as international examples.
We expect delegates to assess implications of findings from the House of Lords Built Environment Committee’s inquiry on new towns. Areas for discussion include governance arrangements needed to support delivery, and the balance between central direction and local consent. Recommendations for infrastructure funding models and sequencing will also be examined, as well as timelines for delivery, and the Committee’s call for government to set out a clear long-term vision and rationale for new settlements. Practical considerations for what adopting an infrastructure first approach would mean in practice, including issues for coordination of transport and utilities investment, timing of public services, and the potential impact on costs and delivery schedules.
Sessions look at the way forward for establishing delivery bodies and structuring of partnerships, looking at priorities for stewardship frameworks, priorities for long-term strategy, and how timelines can support early proof-of-concept delivery.
Infrastructure, long-term planning & impact on communities
The agenda includes discussion on how planning processes can be adapted to support faster and more coordinated delivery of new towns - taking place within the wider context of changes to housing and infrastructure policy, including measures in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill currently progressing through Parliament - and reform to the National Planning Policy Framework. Sessions will also assess new statutory powers for development corporations, with these being outlined as the preferred delivery model for developments.
Considerations for additional legislation will be looked at, to support long-term infrastructure planning, strategic land acquisition and assembly, and the alignment of the new towns programme with broader aims relating to governance, devolution, and industrial strategy.
Sessions will also explore approaches to planning for future expansion and development of sites, including approaches for both green belt sites and urban extensions. Best practice approaches for community engagement will also be assessed, with discussion expected on community review mechanisms, co-design and addressing potential local opposition to developments.
We also expect discussion on the strategic role of new towns in unlocking regional economic growth, including jobs opportunities and skills needs for the programme.
Placemaking, housing & funding
Further sessions focus on placemaking, including support for access to amenities, nature and public transport, looking at priorities for addressing environmental impact and integration with existing communities.
Housing mix, density, affordability and financial viability will be discussed, including how land value capture, public-private investment and the Affordable Homes Programme can best support ambitions for significant proportions of affordable homes. Best practice in building design and performance will be examined - in the context of proposed reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings - as well as construction products regulation and issues around the cost of construction.
Discussion will also look at early infrastructure investment - such as transport, utilities, health, education and green space - and how they are being embedded in the first wave of sites, as well as approaches to structuring long-term funding for social and community infrastructure.
Delegates will consider how public-private funding models might be adopted, assessing approaches to contract allocation for development, as well as how public capital can best be deployed to de-risk and support social ambitions.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those already due to attend include parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons and officials from the Cabinet Office; Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government; Department for Transport; Homes England; Ofwat; Active Travel England; Department for Education; and the Welsh Government.
