Key Takeaways:
- The government’s new towns programme has been criticized for lacking ambition and insufficient commitment to social housing.
- Senior planners involved in building postwar new towns, such as Lee Shostak and John Walker, have expressed concerns about the programme’s ability to alleviate council house waiting lists in big cities.
- The programme’s proposed new towns are not on the scale of previous new towns, such as Milton Keynes, and may not have the necessary leadership and resources to make a substantial difference.
- There is a need for government-backed new town corporations with land ownership and planning powers to deliver homes and infrastructure at scale.
- Local residents have expressed opposition to some of the proposed new town locations, citing concerns about the impact on their communities and the lack of public engagement in the process.
Introduction to the New Towns Programme
The UK government’s new towns programme has been met with criticism from senior planners who were involved in building the country’s postwar new towns. They have expressed concerns about the programme’s lack of ambition and insufficient commitment to social housing. Lee Shostak, former director of planning at Milton Keynes Development Corporation, has stated that the current plan for the new towns may not help people who need homes the most. He believes that the programme’s focus on affordable housing, which will not be social housing, will not alleviate council house waiting lists in big cities.
The Original New Towns Programme
The original new towns programme was designed to ease the housing burden in London with a large stock of council housing. Milton Keynes, for example, was built with the specific goal of providing affordable housing for people moving from London. However, the current programme does not seem to be following the same premise. Shostak has pointed out that there is no indication that the new towns will be available for people moving from London or other urban areas. This has raised concerns about the programme’s ability to address the housing crisis in the UK.
Scale and Leadership of the New Towns Programme
John Walker, who became planning director of MKDC in 1980, has expressed concerns about the scale and leadership of the new towns programme. He believes that the proposed new towns are not ambitious enough and will not compare to the later-stage new towns. Walker has also stated that the programme lacks the strength of leadership and resources to make a substantial difference. He believes that the key to the programme’s success will be the creation of government-backed new town corporations with land ownership and planning powers that can deliver homes and infrastructure at scale.
Local Opposition to the New Towns Programme
The new towns programme has also faced opposition from local residents who are concerned about the impact of the proposed developments on their communities. In the village of Adlington in Cheshire, for example, there has been anger over proposals to build 20,000 new homes on their doorstep. The local council has formally opposed the plans, and residents have expressed concerns about the lack of public engagement in the process. Aysha Hawcutt, an Adlington resident, has stated that the whole village is "traumatised" by the proposals and believes that they will only benefit private companies.
Need for Transparency and Public Engagement
Katy Lock, the director of communities at the TCPA, has stated that there was no strategic approach to identifying locations for the new towns and that there has not been enough public engagement in the process. She believes that the programme is an opportunity to create "exemplar high quality places that are genuinely affordable" and with the right environmental standards. However, she also believes that there needs to be a real change in the way the programme is being executed. Lock has called for more transparency and public engagement in the process to address the mistrust that exists in the public’s mind.
Government Response
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has rejected the claims made by the senior planners and residents. A spokesperson has stated that the government welcomes the Taskforce recommendation that 40% of the homes in the new towns should be affordable housing. The spokesperson has also stated that the New Towns programmes will restore the dream of homeownership for families across the country and help fix the housing crisis. However, the government’s response has not addressed the concerns raised about the programme’s lack of ambition, insufficient commitment to social housing, and the need for government-backed new town corporations with land ownership and planning powers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the UK government’s new towns programme has been criticized for its lack of ambition and insufficient commitment to social housing. Senior planners and residents have expressed concerns about the programme’s ability to alleviate council house waiting lists in big cities and the impact of the proposed developments on local communities. There is a need for more transparency and public engagement in the process, as well as the creation of government-backed new town corporations with land ownership and planning powers to deliver homes and infrastructure at scale. The government must address these concerns and make changes to the programme to ensure that it is successful in addressing the housing crisis in the UK.
