A survey has revealed that 73% of people don’t feel confident that the Government’s new towns scheme will fulfil future ‘community needs’.
The survey produced by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and YouGov highlighted that 74% of 2287 respondents from Great Britain feel the planning, funding and designing decisions relating to new towns should be determined mostly by residents.
A further 82% of the public reported that they’d like the towns to be built by a multitude of organisations, such as ‘smaller housebuilders, community groups, charities and councils’, rather than exclusively big housebuilders.
Whilst some respondents expressed hope about the promise of the programme, the research found that ‘negative terms such as “concrete”, “boring”, and “soulless”’ were frequently used by those asked to describe their ideas of new town developments.
In the RTPI’s ‘Futureproof New Towns: Interim report’, the authors highlight the importance of ensuring new towns are diverse and ‘meet emerging needs’, steering clear of mistakes such as ‘mono-tenure’ housing development.
The report also emphasises the need for efficient transport links and ‘provision of attendant services and public goods’ for residents.
Dr Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the RTPI, said: ‘Britain’s first generation of new towns changed lives – but they also locked in outdated ideas. The bold decision by the Government to create a new generation of new towns offers us a chance to get it right – to create ambitious, community-led places that are designed with communities, for communities.’
Professor John Sturzaker FRTPI, University of Hertfordshire, Research Project Lead, said: ‘There is a lot to learn from new towns around the world. Developments across Europe, Asia and the Americas show us what can be achieved when planning's power is harnessed to create flourishing, sustainable communities.
‘Our aim is for these findings to be used help make sure that this next generation of new towns in England are adaptable to the inevitable changes we face in the future.’
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