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New Towns: Local Government

Asked by Sir James CleverlyConservativeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled Answered 2 July 2026UIN 13142

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the support of the local authority is a necessary condition of a proposed development being part of the Government’s new towns programme.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook

Local authority support is not a condition of a proposed development being part of the new towns programme.

As per Annex C: Locations Methodology of the New Towns Draft Programme consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, sub-criteria and guidance in respect of programme objective 4 makes clear that locations should have the backing of either a local authority, a Mayoral Combined Authority, and/or a developer.

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