Reassurances sought from government over viability of 'new towns' programme

A decision is still being awaited on whether a 21,000 home development on Green Belt land in Enfield will be going ahead

Green Belt land in Crews Hill and (inset) Lord Benjamin Gascoigne

The success of the government’s new towns programme could be “limited” by building material shortages, workforce gaps and the capacity of utility providers, a parliamentary committee has warned.

The House of Lords’ built environment committee is today (Thursday 15th) publishing the third and final report resulting from its inquiry into the scheme, titled New Towns: Commit and Build.

The report identifies five main “limiting factors” which it claims are “slowing or preventing” the completion of the new towns programme, including the plans to build 21,000 homes at Crews Hill and ‘Chase Park’ in the rural north-west of Enfield borough.

The limitations include the UK’s capacity to produce and manufacture building materials and construction products, “exposing UK supply chains to global volatility”; providers of key utilities lacking extra capacity; as well as a shortage of workers in key construction roles requiring “significant and unprecedented growth” in the construction workforce.

While a final decision from the government on which new town locations will be taken forward is still awaited, committee chair Lord Benjamin Gascoigne said: “We recognise that the new towns programme is a massive endeavour and the government has told us that they remain absolutely committed to it. However, our committee has identified the barriers which must be overcome if these new towns are to become a reality.

“First and foremost, the government must take decisive action and provide the necessary assurances to the key interested parties that the programme will be delivered.

“The government needs to inspire confidence across the supply chain to boost building material availability, secure a steady pipeline of skilled workers, and safeguard the future of energy and water by introducing a national resilience framework plan. It also needs to support the wider use of innovative technologies.

“The committee believes it is possible for the government to overcome the challenges facing the new towns programme, but now is the time to act.”

Steps the committee has called on the government to take include the introduction of “a national resilience framework plan” in order to “safeguard the future of energy and water for mega-projects, which should include new towns”; undertaking “a national review of non-degree construction training and apprenticeships” to assess their effectiveness and the reasons for high drop-out rates from construction training courses; making it easier to employ “innovative technologies” in the new towns programme; as well as a commitment from the government to “work collaboratively with the sector to earn their confidence”.

The full report can be read via the built environment committee’s webpage here.

Housing minister Matthew Pennycook last month said a decision on whether to go ahead with each of the seven shortlisted new town locations would be announced before the new year.

Back in June, local campaigners handed in thousands of letters opposing the Enfield new town to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Starmer resigned shortly afterwards.

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