Labour pledges to start three new towns this parliament
Labour pledges to start three new towns this parliament
Labour has pledged to start building three new towns before the next general election after revealing 12 shortlisted locations in England for development.
The government confirmed that Tempsford in Bedfordshire, Crews Hill in Enfield, and Leeds South Bank are the early front-runners from a shortlist identified by the taskforce led by Sir Michael Lyons.
A New Towns Unit will now be established to push the programme forward, unblock barriers, and test new delivery models. Ministers said the unit would also act as a test bed for innovation, working across departments to drive progress.
The sites cover a mix of greenfield settlements, city extensions, and major regeneration projects, stretching from Thamesmead in east London to Marlcombe in East Devon.
12 recommended new town locations
| Location | Description |
|---|---|
| Adlington, Cheshire East | Standalone settlement to serve growth in Greater Manchester and Cheshire industries |
| South Gloucestershire corridor | Linked sites at Brabazon and West Innovation Arc in a high-productivity tech cluster |
| Crews Hill, Enfield | Green scheme linking Crews Hill and Chase Park to ease London housing pressure |
| Heyford Park, Cherwell | Redevelopment of former airbase near Oxford, linked to innovative technology industries |
| Leeds South Bank | Urban development to deliver homes tied to £2.1bn transport funding boost |
| Manchester Victoria North | Inner-city densification to support growth and attract high-skilled workers |
| Marlcombe, East Devon | Standalone settlement supporting Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone |
| Milton Keynes | ‘Renewed Town’ expanding city centre with mass rapid transit system |
| Plymouth | Densified development to align with £4.4bn HMNB Devonport investment |
| Tempsford, Central Bedfordshire | New town linked to East West Rail in Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor |
| Thamesmead, Greenwich | Riverside settlement tied to potential DLR extension unlocking inaccessible land |
| Worcestershire Parkway, Wychavon | Expansion around new station to meet housing need with carbon-neutral model |
Each settlement will deliver more than 10,000 homes, with a minimum of 40% affordable housing, half of which should be for social rent.
The taskforce called for accountable delivery bodies capable of offering long-term certainty and shaping communities around economic growth and infrastructure.
A Strategic Environmental Assessment will be launched before final decisions are confirmed in spring 2026.
The government said it would only back schemes that can demonstrate clear economic purpose, delivery capacity, and strong engagement with local communities.
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