The Government’s New Towns Taskforce visited Cambridge with the focus of learning lessons from a place that is already delivering housing at scale.
The Taskforce is an independent expert advisory panel established in September 2024 to support the government to deliver the next generation of new towns. Greater Cambridge has a vital role in kickstarting economic growth across the country, and the Taskforce heard about award-winning developments in the local area plus the work to overcome key challenges, including water scarcity, to support future sustainable growth.
Members took the opportunity to explore the ongoing work in Cambridge and learn lessons. They heard from key players in the city, including officials from the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service and others from across the Greater Cambridge area. Key workstreams related to the new towns programme, including developing its spatial mapping work, were also discussed.
The visit to Cambridge on 1 October came two weeks after the Taskforce, chaired by Sir Michael Lyons, held its inaugural meeting in Milton Keynes on 17 September. Members have met again within the fortnight to continue their mission to address the national housing demand and to help boost economic growth, as outlined to the group by the Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Minister last month.
The Taskforce will present a final shortlist of recommendations on appropriate locations to ministers within the next year. No decisions have yet been made on the location of any new towns.