New towns could help tackle London's housing crisis, but only if delivered with clear standards on housing, transport and community involvement, according to a report by the London Assembly Planning and Regeneration Committee.
Two potential sites have been identified: Crews Hill and Chase Park in Enfield, and Thamesmead Waterfront in Greenwich. But without strong leadership and planning frameworks, the report warns, both risk delivering poor outcomes, including low-quality green spaces and unsuitable housing.
The committee says new towns must create ‘long-term civic systems’ offering jobs, infrastructure and a sense of place, not just homes.
Recommendations include guaranteeing affordable housing with social rent prioritised, transport infrastructure from day one, embedded green infrastructure, meaningful community co-design, and dedicated Government funding with greater land value capture powers.
Committee chair James Small-Edwards AM said new towns ‘could be a real tool’ to tackle the housing crisis, but only if delivered properly from the outset to create genuinely liveable communities.
