Policy paper

New Towns Taskforce: Terms of Reference

Published 18 September 2024

Applies to England

Purpose and scope

1. The New Towns Taskforce is an independent expert advisory panel established in September 2024 to support the government to deliver the next generation of new towns. The primary objective of the new towns programme is to create new and expanded places and thereby boost economic growth and the supply of new homes – spreading opportunity and supporting strong communities.

2. New towns will be located on large sites that provide significantly more homes, with 10,000 new homes the minimum. They should collectively deliver hundreds of thousands of new homes by 2050. A large number of new towns are expected to be urban extensions - though opportunities for standalone settlements will be considered, alongside redevelopment of existing places in a way that provides significant additional homes. New towns will be well-connected, well-designed, sustainable and attractive places where people want to live, as well as having the infrastructure, amenities and services necessary to sustain thriving communities.

3. The purpose of the New Towns Taskforce is to make recommendations to ministers on the location and delivery of new towns, with the objective of supporting and unlocking economic growth as well as making a significant contribution to meeting housing demand in England. It will deliver a final shortlist of recommendations within 12 months, but can share conclusions in respect of specific sites earlier if beneficial to the government’s housebuilding drive. The Taskforce will work in partnership with local leaders and communities, but its selection of sites will be made in the national interest.

4. Specifically, the Taskforce will undertake the activities set out below, with support from Government officials but acting independently to determine its recommendations.

a. Define criteria for the selection of successful new towns, in line with the Government’s objectives to ensure that the new towns programme unlocks economic growth, reduces inequality, is financially viable, meets the government’s aspirations for sustainability and affordability, and can be delivered within a reasonable time frame.
b. Recommend potential suitable locations or areas of high potential using defined criteria.
c. Advise on a ‘New Towns Prospectus’ – standards that developers must meet in these new settlements (covering social and affordable homes, design, transport links to towns and city centres, public transport, green spaces), as well as what the Government ‘offer’ is in return.
d. Identify the infrastructure, public and private services, and green space required to enable the creation of well-connected new towns in potential locations.
e. Support the creation of robust business cases for new towns, incorporating evidence of the economic, social and growth benefits they will bring.
f. Evaluate options for an appropriate delivery mechanism to lead long-term work on planning, land acquisition and engagement with developers. This should include shaping commissions for planning, design, and legal consultants to assess the merits of various development and delivery approaches.
g. Advise on the necessary stewardship arrangements required to ensure the successful delivery of new towns over the longer-term.
h. Design and advise on the approach to engage with key stakeholders, including key experts, the housing sector, landowners, infrastructure, investors and local communities.

Outputs

5. The Taskforce and the government officials supporting it will be responsible for reporting on progress by the end of this year, with a final report submitted in July 2025.

6. In order to develop recommendations to ministers the Taskforce should:

a. engage with local and national stakeholders to ensure a breadth of views and opinions;
b. engage with central government, local government and external stakeholders;
c. commission work from the Secretariat, Homes England, and external parties (via the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) officials who will use MHCLG’s procurement framework & processes); and
d. critically assess the products/reports/returns from commissioned work.

Membership

7. The New Towns Taskforce will be chaired by Sir Michael Lyons. Dame Kate Barker will be the Deputy Chair.

8. The wider Taskforce will be comprised of eight sector experts in relevant fields such as planning, infrastructure delivery, architecture and urban regeneration. Members will be ministerially appointed and chosen in line with criteria established for selection. Members report and are accountable to the Chair.

9. Observers and expert witnesses relevant to new towns may be invited to support the work of the Taskforce and attend meetings on an ad-hoc basis.

Role of the Chair and Deputy Chair

10. The Chair has responsibility for providing effective leadership of the Taskforce. The Chair will set the strategic direction of the Taskforce and oversee the Taskforce’s engagement with stakeholders and the media, as agreed with the Department. The Chair is ultimately responsible for the outputs of the Taskforce and the independent recommendations which the Taskforce makes to MHCLG and ministers.

11. The Chair will be the main point of contact between the Taskforce and the Department, including ministers.

12. The Deputy Chair reports to the Chair and will provide advice on the strategic direction of the Taskforce and may have delegated responsibility for engaging with stakeholders and media, at the discretion of the Chair.

Commitments

13. The Chair will be expected to commit a minimum of 4 working days per month to the role, the Deputy Chair 2-3 working days and members committing a minimum of 2 working days per month.

Meetings

14. The Taskforce will meet monthly. The agenda for these meeting will be prepared by the Secretariat and agreed with the Chair, although other members can also suggest agenda items in advance if they wish. In addition to members, relevant departmental officials will attend these meetings, alongside officials from other government departments and Homes England, expert witnesses and key stakeholders.

15. The Taskforce will aim to meet in person, but with virtual options available by exception. Taskforce members should make every effort to attend main Taskforce meetings. If for any reason they cannot attend, it is important that the Secretariat and the Chair are informed as soon as possible. In this event, members can provide comments on papers via email or post.

16. Alongside monthly meetings, Taskforce members should meet to progress work outside of the main meetings. Members should also expect to meet with key stakeholders and witnesses as well as expect to spend some time researching, commissioning and drafting. The Taskforce may also undertake regional visits hosted by local leaders and meet with key stakeholders.

Ways of Working

17. Members will be required to display sound judgement and the ability to work constructively with others on the Taskforce to achieve a common consensus and also engage others from the industry and public services to support the Taskforce and the Department’s work. In doing so, they should maintain their role as independent of government – bringing their expertise and constructive challenge.

18. Parts of the Taskforce’s work is likely to be of a market sensitive nature and care will need to be given to avoid prejudicing ministerial decisions. Members should not contact the press or other media to discuss anything related to the work of the Taskforce, or discuss the Taskforce’s work, or work of the wider government, in any context where it may become public knowledge or be picked up by the press/media, without first expressly agreeing this with the Department and also with the Chair. If members are contacted by the media directly, they should route these enquiries through the Department and the Chair. This is particularly pertinent for the new towns programme, to avoid sharing market sensitive information or prejudicing the decision-making of ministers.

19. Members should also take care when commenting publicly on anything which could be related to government policy, including when making presentations or writing articles, to ensure that comments are not inappropriately attributed collectively to the Taskforce and that no conflict of interest arises. In such circumstances members may find it helpful to discuss the matter with the Chair and the Department beforehand.

20. Members should also not accept any gifts or hospitality in relation to their roles on the Taskforce which could appear to place them under any obligation to an individual or organisation making the offer.

Conflicts of Interest

21. All members have undergone appropriate due diligence ahead of being appointed. Members are required to declare any new conflicts of interest which arise over the course of their appointment to the Taskforce to the Chair and Secretariat. Members should declare any personal or business interests which may, or may be perceived (by a reasonable member of the public) to influence their judgement or conflict with their responsibilities as members. This should include, as a minimum, personal direct and indirect pecuniary (financial) interests.

22. This includes any consultancy, research or other work related to new towns, any financial payments or grants made to individuals or organisations they are associated with which may link to the new towns programme.

23. Members should seek to avoid situations in which conflicts of interest may arise. Members should approach the Chair and Secretariat if they are aware of any potential situation where conflicts of interest may arise.

Supporting structures

24. The Group will have a dedicated secretariat, staffed by MHCLG, headed by a senior civil servant. The Taskforce and Secretariat will be supported by various policy/delivery teams from MHCLG, Homes England, the Office for Place, IPA and other key government departments and their agencies as required.

Decision-making

25. The Taskforce will not hold direct accountability for decisions or spending. The members of the Taskforce will make recommendations which will form the basis of advice to ministers. MHCLG officials will have access to these recommendations to advise ministers in the normal way.

26. On an ad-hoc basis, Taskforce members may also provide research and data from their own organisations.

Budget

27. The Taskforce budget will be held by MHCLG. Expenditure proposed by the Taskforce must meet Managing Public Money requirements, and procurement must be done in line with Cabinet Office requirements. The New Towns Senior Responsible Officer will provide departmental approval for significant expenditure.

Duration and review

28. The Taskforce will produce a final report with recommendations for locations within its first 12 months of establishment. Its activities, membership and purpose will be reviewed when there are significant changes to the vision or significant milestones. The first review will take place in early 2025.