Planning news – 24 July 2025

Councils could meet their local housing needs using new town homes

The government is reviewing whether homes delivered through the new towns programme could actually count towards local housing need (LHN) targets – which is a notable shift from its previously stated position. 

Planning minister Matthew Pennycook confirmed that the approach is under review, signalling a potential policy change that would allow new town housing to contribute to councils’ existing housing requirement metrics. This would mark a departure from earlier commitments, that these homes would be delivered in addition to local and national targets. 

Back in April 2025, Housing Secretary Angela Rayner stated that new town homes would be delivered “over and above” standard housing targets. This followed a similar position outlined in July 2024, when Pennycook said these homes would not count towards the national goal of 370,000 homes per year during this Parliament. 

While the current stance remains that new towns are intended to supplement rather than replace local allocations, the ‘reviewing’ – mentioned by Pennycook during a House of Lords New Towns Committee hearing – opens the door to their potential inclusion in future LHN figures.  

An official announcement confirming the locations of new towns is still awaited, despite previous suggestions that details would be released in July. 

Government will override local opposition to new towns

The government has confirmed it will push ahead with new town developments regardless of local opposition, stating that nationally driven site selection will take precedence over local concerns. 

Speaking at the House of Lords New Towns Committee, Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook made it clear that local objections will not affect decision-making. He emphasised that recommendations from the independent New Towns Taskforce – established last year to identify suitable sites across the country – will not be discounted due to local backlash. 

The taskforce, which issued a call for evidence in November 2024, was expected to deliver a list of proposed new town locations by July 2025. However, there now appears to be less clarity around timelines. The government confirmed this week that it has not yet received the taskforce’s full report. 

Pennycook outlined how delivery will be overseen: “Whether it’s the secretary of state, the appropriate mayor, or a local authority, there will be a designated oversight authority for delivery,” he said. “It will be for the relevant oversight authority to ensure each development corporation is appropriately transparent and accountable.” 

As reported by Planning Resource, Pennycook has said the New Towns Taskforce report is expected “in the summer,” with the government planning to publish it alongside its formal response after the summer recess – meaning we’ll be waiting a while longer for confirmation of the new town locations. 

Revealed: Six English regions to gain powerful elected mayors under new devolution deal

Six areas across England are set to establish new devolved mayoral authorities, following confirmation that each has met the legal requirements to proceed. This move forms part of the government’s broader Devolution Programme, which aims to hand more power to local leaders and drive regional growth. 

The regions moving forward with the new arrangements are: 

• Cumbria 

• Cheshire and Warrington 

• Norfolk and Suffolk 

• Greater Essex 

• Sussex and Brighton 

• Hampshire and the Solent 

Each of these areas will soon elect a mayor to lead a new strategic authority, with significant powers to shape the future of their region. These elected mayors will be responsible for overseeing key policy areas such as housing, transport, and wider strategic sectors, aligning local priorities with national devolution goals. 

To support the transition, the government has pledged to provide each new authority with a dedicated 30-year investment fund, enabling long-term planning and delivery. A standardised funding model will also be introduced to ensure greater transparency and fairness across the board. 

The announcement comes alongside the introduction of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which proposes further powers for local leaders. Under the bill, elected mayors would be granted the authority to intervene in planning applications deemed strategically important and issue planning permission through mayoral development orders – streamlining processes by removing the need for traditional applications.