Using new towns as a key element of Labour’s plans to deliver the largest housebuilding programme since the post-war period was announced at the end of last month is a bold move to meet the UK’s housing needs. However, the country is no stranger to creating such settlements and there has been mixed success too. 

There are lots of lessons – positive and negative – that should be considered by Sir Michael Lyons in his role as leader of the recently formed new towns taskforce as he draws up the new towns code that will shape how these projects are delivered.

Reflecting on past new town developments, both in the UK and Europe, I think there are four essential factors that need to be considered in combination to create the right foundations for a development to be successful. These elements are location, place-led development, joined-up planning and a genuine partnership between the public and private sectors.