Jenrick calls on councils to build post-Brexit new towns

Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has called on local authorities to deliver thousands of new homes to boost local growth post-Brexit. Jenrick said the initiative will create “the future Canary Wharfs of the North and the Milton Keynes of the Midlands”. The government has provided a £10m fund for councils to develop initial proposals for up to 10 new communities in the regions backed by new development corporations. Councils are invited to submit proposals for locally-led new towns for a share of the finance. They will be required to deliver new homes with infrastructure and communities. The first project will be at Toton, led by Midlands Engine chairman John Peace. It will see the creation of a development corporation to develop the area close to the M1 and East Midlands Airport. Jenrick has appointed Canary Wharf’s former chief executive George Iacobescu to advise the government on future projects to take forward. Jenrick said: “We want to drive economic growth outside London and the South East. Our new development corporations will empower local areas to come forward with ideas for new towns that deliver jobs, houses and economic growth.” George Iacobescu said: “I would like to encourage local authorities and their private sector partners to come forward with ambitious programmes and ideas.” Midlands Engine chairman John Peace said the new development corporations would “address market failure, accelerate our path to delivery and embed innovation”. “In taking forward our proposal for a development corporation, we will capitalise on a once-in-a-generation economic and regeneration opportunity, of scale,” he said. Development corporations have brought forward more than 20 new towns including Milton Keynes and Telford, and Canary Wharf and Royal London Docks in London. The government is consulting on development corporation reform of legislation from the New Towns Act 1981. It will look to enable greater private sector involvement, local authority use of development corporations and to assess the need for planning powers. To send feedback, e-mail emma.rosser@egi.co.uk or tweet @EmmaARosser or @estatesgazette