Lords committee launches inquiry into feasibility of new towns scheme

More than 100 potential locations in England have already been identified and submitted to the New Towns Taskforce. Most of these are urban expansions in London, the South East and the South West.

The first of the inquiry’s modules will explore the practical considerations of delivering new towns by asking: ‘Is the construction of new towns and expanded settlements practicable and achievable?’

If the answer to this question is ‘yes’, subsequent modules will explore the ‘how’, looking at infrastructure enablement, social infrastructure, housing delivery and creation of communities.

Lord Gascoigne, chair of the House of Lords Built Environment Committee, said: “The UK has a chronic housing shortage and, like its predecessors, the new government has very ambitious housebuilding targets to address these shortages.

“Our initial inquiry will focus on practical delivery and seek to understand the legal, political and economic channels through which new and expanded settlements can be successfully delivered.

“To inform our work we want to hear from as broad a range of people as possible.”

The deadline for the submission of written evidence for the first module on practical delivery is 12 May 2025.