The Labour government has unveiled a sweeping plan to jumpstart housebuilding across England, pledging to break ground on three new towns before the next general election. Housing Secretary Steve Reed made the announcement on the opening day of Labour’s annual party conference in Liverpool, promising to “do whatever it takes to get Britain building.” The move is part of Labour’s wider ambition to deliver 1.5 million new homes by 2029, a centerpiece of its economic growth strategy and a direct response to what ministers have described as an urgent national housing shortage.
According to a report from the government’s New Towns Taskforce, twelve locations in England have been earmarked for development, with Tempsford in Bedfordshire, Leeds South Bank, and Crews Hill in north London identified as the most promising sites to begin construction. Each of these new towns is expected to have at least 10,000 homes, and collectively, the dozen sites could see up to 300,000 homes built in the coming decades, as reported by The Guardian and BBC.
Labour’s plan draws inspiration from the post-war new towns programme, which was launched by Clement Attlee’s government to address the housing crisis following World War Two. The approach this time, however, is more ambitious and modernized. The government has set up a New Towns Unit, which will channel millions in public and private investment into vital infrastructure—think GP surgeries, schools, green spaces, libraries, and improved transport links. The unit will also work with leading architects to ensure each new town has its own unique character, rooted in the local identity and needs of the area, as outlined by Sky News.
“We will fight for hard working people, locked out of a secure home for too long by the Conservative government of blockers,” Reed is expected to say in his conference speech. “This Labour Government won’t sit back and let this happen. I will do whatever it takes to get Britain building. We’ve got to ‘build baby build’.” Reed’s remarks echo the rallying cry of the post-war Labour government and its promise of “homes fit for heroes.” Now, he says, “with the worst economic inheritance since that war, we will once again build cutting-edge communities to provide homes fit for families of all shapes and sizes.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has also weighed in, emphasizing the urgency of the situation: “For so many families, homeownership is a distant dream. My Labour Government will sweep aside the blockers to get homes built, building the next generation of new towns.”
The New Towns Taskforce has recommended that at least 40% of the new homes in these towns should be classed as affordable housing, a target the government has welcomed. The plan is to deliver these towns through development corporations, bodies with special powers to compulsorily purchase land, grant planning permission, and invest in local services. This approach follows the successful model of Stratford’s regeneration in east London, which was overseen by a development corporation during and after the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The twelve proposed sites span the breadth of England, from a standalone settlement in Adlington, Cheshire East, to dense development in Plymouth, and a new riverside settlement in Thamesmead, south-east London. Other locations include South Gloucestershire, East Devon, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Heyford Park in Oxfordshire, and expanded development around Worcestershire Parkway train station. Final decisions on the locations and funding are expected next spring, after environmental assessments and public consultations are completed. This, the government says, will ensure that new developments are sustainable and reflect the needs of both current and future residents.
But not everyone is convinced—or even informed. In Tempsford, Bedfordshire, where the population currently stands at just 600 people and 300 houses, there’s a palpable sense of unease. David Sutton, chairman of the parish council, told the PA news agency, “The biggest problem we’ve got at the moment is that 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. Nobody’s come to talk to us at all.” His comments highlight a recurring tension in large-scale development projects: the need for clear communication and meaningful engagement with local communities.
Earlier this year, the government confirmed plans for a new train station at Tempsford, intended to improve connections between the East Coast Main Line and East West Rail. This infrastructure investment is seen as a critical step in making the proposed new town viable, but residents remain in the dark about what the future holds for their village.
The announcement comes at a turbulent time for the Labour Party. With the party trailing behind Reform UK in the polls, and Prime Minister Starmer facing questions over his leadership, the pressure is on to deliver results and restore public confidence. The conference in Liverpool is being billed as an opportunity for Labour to set out its vision for the country and draw a clear line under recent controversies, including the resignation of former housing secretary Angela Rayner over tax issues on a flat purchase.
Industry experts have warned that the government faces significant challenges in meeting its ambitious targets. Rising costs, higher taxes, and a record low in planning approvals for new homes during Labour’s first year in office have all contributed to a sluggish pace of housebuilding. Just last week, Steve Reed described the slow growth in housebuilding figures as “unacceptable.” Between April and June 2025, 80,400 planning applications were received—a 5% drop from the previous year—while 80,800 decisions were made, down 1% from the same period in 2024.
Despite these hurdles, Labour’s leadership insists that the new towns initiative is both necessary and achievable. The promise of a “new generation of new towns” was a key plank in Labour’s election manifesto, and ministers are determined to follow through. The developments will range from standalone settlements to expansions of existing towns and regeneration schemes within cities, offering a diverse mix of housing options and community amenities.
Looking back, the legacy of the post-war new towns—places like Stevenage, Crawley, and Welwyn Garden City—offers both inspiration and cautionary tales. Those projects relocated thousands from bombed-out or substandard housing, reshaping the urban landscape of modern Britain. Today’s Labour government hopes to recapture that spirit of innovation and social progress, while learning from past mistakes to create communities that are sustainable, inclusive, and genuinely affordable.
As the plans move forward, much will depend on how effectively the government can balance speed with sensitivity—delivering homes for those who need them most, without bulldozing over the concerns of local residents. For now, the country waits to see whether Labour’s bold vision for a new wave of towns will become a reality, or remain just another promise on the political drawing board.
