Recently, The Deputy Prime Minister addressed the first meeting of the New Towns Taskforce, asking them to identify and recommend locations for new towns within the next year.

Building on the appointments of Sir Michael Lyons as Chair and Dame Kate Barker as Deputy Chair in July, the government has appointed an additional 8 members with a wealth of expertise to drive forward the government’s ambition to deliver the next generation of new towns.

Together, the Taskforce aims to bring vast knowledge across key sectors including planning, infrastructure delivery, architecture, investment, funding, and urban regeneration.

The Taskforce met for the first time last week in Milton Keynes, one of the most successful 20th century new towns. The Deputy Prime Minister and the Housing Minister attended the meeting to set out their ambition for the Taskforce to play a leading role in addressing housing demand and accelerating economic growth in towns and cities across England.

The launch of the Taskforce marks a key milestone in the government’s mission to drive economic growth by delivering the homes and infrastructure the country needs. The Taskforce will be vital to this mission, by providing expert independent advice on potential locations for new towns locations within the next year, with a focus on supporting sustainable communities and helping us to tackle the national housing crisis.

The Taskforce will report to the Deputy Prime Minister and meet on a monthly basis. It will be supported in full by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and by Homes England, as well as civil servants across all government departments and agencies.

Ahead of submitting a report to ministers next summer, Taskforce members will be asked to consider key matters including: the strategic case for new towns; location identification and selection; placemaking; design and standards; funding, risk and institutional investment; and unlocking delivery and innovation.

The Taskforce will meet again in early October for its second official meeting. The government is also committed to working closely with local leaders during this process.

Find the full list of members and their biographies.