The Labour government has pledged to begin construction on three new towns before the next general election, as part of its flagship commitment to tackle the housing crisis and boost economic growth.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed announced that Tempsford in Bedfordshire, Leeds South Bank, and Crews Hill in north London had been earmarked as the first sites for development. The announcement came during his speech on the opening day of Labour’s annual party conference in Liverpool.
The plans follow recommendations from the New Towns Taskforce, which identified 12 potential locations for large-scale housing projects across England. Labour has promised to deliver 1.5 million new homes by 2029, with the new towns initiative expected to play a central role in meeting that target.
“This party built new towns after the war to meet our promise of homes fit for heroes,” Reed told delegates, invoking the legacy of Clement Attlee’s post-war Labour government. “I will do whatever it takes to get Britain building again — not just homes, but whole communities.”
The new towns will each contain at least 10,000 homes and could ultimately provide 300,000 across England in the coming decades. Labour has pledged that at least 40% of these will be affordable housing. Alongside housing, the government says the developments will include GP surgeries, schools, green spaces, libraries and transport links, supported by both public and private investment.
Development corporations with special planning powers will oversee the projects, following the model used in the regeneration of Stratford, east London, during the 2012 Olympics.
Reed, who recently replaced Angela Rayner as housing secretary after her resignation, framed the announcement in personal terms. He recalled the closure of a factory in his hometown and how it devastated his community, saying the experience had driven his mission to rebuild Britain’s towns. Delegates responded with a standing ovation.
The initiative also had a lighter moment, as supporters in the front row donned red baseball caps reading “Build Baby Build” — a phrase Reed echoed as he ended his speech.
However, concerns remain. Local leaders in Tempsford, a village of just 600 people, said they had been left in the dark about the plans. “Even today, as an announcement’s being made, we’ve been given no idea whatsoever of the scale of what we’re being asked to live amongst,” said David Sutton, chair of the parish council.
Housebuilders have also warned that rising costs and taxes could make Labour’s ambitious targets difficult to achieve. Meanwhile, official figures show planning approvals for new homes in England fell to a record low during Labour’s first year in government.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has made housebuilding a top priority, vowing to “sweep aside the blockers” and prevent home ownership from becoming “a distant dream” for younger generations.
The government is expected to confirm final sites and funding for the new towns next spring, following environmental assessments and local consultations.
