New Towns Draft Programme
Applies to England
Consultation description
The government is publishing a public consultation on the new towns draft programme and its environmental implications.
Since the publication of the New Towns Taskforce report in September 2025, the government has been developing the programme to unlock significant economic potential, lay the foundations for long-term sustainable growth, and create places at a scale that allows them to be built with all the infrastructure they need to succeed.
This consultation invites views on:
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how the new towns draft programme could operate the 7 proposed locations
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how new towns could be delivered and planned
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the proposed approach to design and planning policy
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the government’s offer to locations
It also invites views on a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) report which focuses on:
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local environmental constraints
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the cumulative effects of new towns development
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practical methods of mitigation and monitoring
Following this consultation and completion of the SEA and Habitats Regulation Assessments, the government intends to publish final proposals and confirm the New Town programme locations later in summer 2026.
We will publish a full government response to the recommendations of the New Towns Taskforce, including more detail on how our confirmed locations will be delivered in line with our ambition for the programme.