Government publishes draft plan for new towns
The UK government has published its new towns draft programme this week and is looking to gather feedback from stakeholders over the next few months.
Seven potential locations for new towns are put forward in the programme, with Enfield, Leeds, and Tempsford identified as priorities:
- Tempsford
- Crews Hill and Chase Park, Enfield
- Leeds South Bank
- Manchester Victoria North
- Thamesmead, Greenwich
- Brabazon and the West Innovation Arc, South Gloucestershire
- Milton Keynes
The programme also sets out the objectives of new towns, including those around economic growth and placemaking, and also covers how they will be delivered.
In terms of placemaking, the government plans on taking forward several key principles, which would cover:
- easily accessible green spaces and recreational facilities,
- ambitious environmental standards and enhanced biodiversity, and
- clear governance and funding structures to manage and maintain communal assets over the long term.
The government has opened a consultation on the draft programme and BALI will be responding on behalf of its members.
If you have any questions or comments on the programme, please contact us at technical@bali.org.uk and we will be pleased to address them.
The BALI policy team previously responded to a call for evidence by the New Towns Taskforce, which then put forward the placemaking principles above.