Three of these will be begun this parliament, at Tempsford, Crews Hill and Leeds South Bank, with an independent report putting the locations forward.

This report was published by the New Towns Taskforce, led by Sir Michael Lyons, which was officially set up in September 2024.

The taskforce is recommending each new town should have at least 10,000 homes with an aim for 40% of these to be affordably priced or designated for social rent.

A New Towns Unit is being established to progress development on these new towns. Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) will then be undertaken to understand the environmental implications of these new towns.

The government will be looking for assurance that any location can be effectively and efficiently delivered in partnership with local communities, has a clear economic purpose, and will support economic growth. Different delivery vehicles will also be tested to learn lessons for how future large settlements are delivered and to contribute to a wider transformation of housing supply.

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The government will publish the draft proposals and final SEA for consultation in Spring, before confirming the locations that will be progressed as new towns soon after. This will be alongside a full government response to the New Towns Taskforce’s report.

The 12 locations are:

• Adlington, Cheshire East
• A corridor of connected development in South Gloucestershire
• An expanded development bringing together Chase Park and Crews Hill in Enfield
• Redevelopment of a former airbase at Heyford Park in Cherwell
• Leeds South Bank
• Manchester, Victoria North
• Marlcombe, East Devon
• A ‘Renewed Town’ in Milton Keynes
• Densified development in Plymouth
• Tempsford, Central Bedfordshire
• Thamesmead, Greenwich
• Worcestershire Parkway, Wychavon