New Towns: Practicalities & Placemaking
50 Shades of Planning
Defining a 'town-building' approach
Fionnuala discusses treating new towns as multi-dimensional systems, not mere urban extensions.
New Towns are back in the news because the Government has announced the first formal step in creating the next generation of them with the launch of a public consultation on the draft New Towns Programme and its environmental implications.
The consultation builds on the findings of the New Towns Taskforce report in September 2025 and invites views on how the New Towns Programme will operate, how new towns will be delivered and planned, and the proposed approach to design, placemaking and planning policy. It seeks views on the Government’s offer to locations and a Strategic Environment Assessment report which focuses on local environmental constraints, the cumulative effects of new towns development, and practical methods of mitigation and monitoring.
Now then seemed like a good time for Sam Stafford to share a recording made online in November 2025 by new friends of the Rebecca Warren, Fionnuala Lennon, Jonathan Schifferes and Lucy Bush, and old friend of the podcast Hana Loftus.
The recording was actually made in two now combined parts, both steered by Rebecca. In the first third of this episode you will hear Rebecca, Fionnuala and Jonathan talk about some of the practicalities associated with new town development, and in the following two thirds you will hear Rebecca, Fionnuala, Lucy and Hana talk about placemaking.
Some accompanying reading.
Seven new towns proposed to kickstart housebuilding push
New Towns Draft Programme Consultation
New Towns Taskforce: Report to government
A fourth generation of New Towns – focusing on delivery
Radical Citizenship: a model for new towns and beyond
New towns in England: what next for the winners and runners up?
Some accompanying listening.
Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan - A New Town With An Old Sense Of Community
Any other business.
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Sam is grateful to Richborough, Town Legal and Tyler Grange for supporting the podcast; to Vistry for sponsoring the 50 Shades mugs; and to Rachael Cooper and Adrian Meehan for recording and editing this episode.
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