The new plan to build new towns – and why it’s just what Starmer needs

['Vicky Spratt', 'Housing Correspondent', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus', 'Display Inline', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Where Img', 'Height Auto Max-Width', 'Vertical-Align Bottom .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar'] The i Paper 2025-09-27 22:30:00

“Build, baby, build”, according to Labour’s new Housing Secretary Steve Reed. The locations for Labour’s new towns have been recommended by the New Towns Taskforce, which Tony Blair’s former housing guru, the economist Dame Kate Barker, was a part of. Housing and Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook is known to have drawn up Labour’s plans for new towns while in opposition. Some of the areas earmarked for Labour’s new towns – such as the southwest and Oxfordshire – are Lib Dem strongholds. Labour must also think carefully about its messaging to build the local consent needed to avoid major planning challenges.