Burnham ‘scales back’ new towns plan
The Prime Minister is less keen than former PM Keir Starmer, and wants to extend existing towns and cities, the Financial Times has reported.
Plans to build new towns are likely scaled back in the next few months, it has been reported in the Financial Times.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham, (pictured), is said to be less enthusiastic on the project than predecessor Keir Starmer.
Burnham wants local mayors to oversee new housing development in their areas, and for the emphasis to be on extending existing towns and cities.
The Prime Minister doesn’t want to kill off the plan altogether, but is not keen on greenfield sites being developed.
Number cut
Earlier this year, the number of planned new towns was cut down from 12 to seven, but Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook stressed at the time they were still a priority.
Building new towns of at least 10,000 properties was made a central part of the Labour Government’s drive to build 1.5million new homes, when it was elected two years ago.
Work start
Pennycook said in March that work would begin on three sites by the end of this Parliament, which is 2029 at the latest.
The three locations where building is due to start first are Thempsford in Bedfordshire, Crews Hill and Chase Park in Enfield, and Leeds South Bank in West Yorkshire.
The other four sites are Manchester Victoria North in Greater Manchester, Thamesmead in Greenwich, Brabazon and the West Innovation Arc in South Gloucestershire, and Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire.
