Simon Jenkins’ article, which references the Town and Country Planning Association, sadly ignored contemporary thinking about how a new generation of new towns could be delivered (Labour’s supposedly bold ‘new towns’ idea has been tried before. And it failed, 12 October).
New, large-scale communities are an essential part of the package of solutions that we need to tackle the housing crisis. If planned strategically, combining a national spatial approach to identifying locations and with public consent, we can create high-quality, zero carbon places that enable healthy lifestyles and enhance the natural environment, preventing urban sprawl.
Holistically planned communities allow low-carbon transport infrastructure, high energy efficiency standards for homes, and walkable, active environments providing homes, jobs and social infrastructure embedded from the beginning, rather than added as an afterthought. It is vital that we learn lessons from the postwar new towns and beyond. We can start by remembering that the new towns programme provided decent, affordable homes and jobs for millions of people, and actually made a profit for the Treasury.
A new generation of new towns must provide this while being exemplars of climate resilience – committing to the highest environmental and quality standards and providing mechanisms for long-term stewardship to ensure they are places people will be proud to call home for generations to come.
Katy Lock
Director, communities, Town and Country Planning Association
