Telord 'can lead way' over housing crisis, says MP Lucy Allan
New towns such as Telford can lead the way in tackling Britain's housing crisis, MP Lucy Allan said at the launch of a new group to give them a voice at Westminster.
The Telford MP said tackling problems with ageing infrastructure and poor housing, as well as attracting new businesses, would be priorities of the new all-party group at its launch in the House of Commons.
She said that over the course of the year, the group would hold round-table debates on how to improve housing, health and local economies, with the findings being reported back to government to help shape future policies.
The reception was also attended by cabinet minister Sajid Javid, who said Telford was leading the way in showing what can be done when the Government, council and businesses worked together to provide much-needed housing.
Ms Allan, who is chairman of the group, said new towns such as Telford were borne out of a vision and ambition that could play a crucial role in shaping Britain's future.
"It is clear that new towns have an important role to play in Britain’s future and in the lives of the next generation seeking to build a better life," she said.
“The group will aim to tackle new town challenges such as ageing infrastructure, poor private rental housing and connectivity, as well as deprivation, in order to influence future government policy and keep new towns centre stage.
“The cross-party group will be an effective champion for Telford as well as other New Towns across the country.“
Mr Javid, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government said he was keen to better understand the challenges and opportunities for new towns, and how the Government could do more to support them.
And he said the Telford Land Deal, which saw the council and Government working with Homes England and Marches Local Enterprise Partnership to deliver 2,800 new homes and 8,500 new jobs, showed what could be done.
“The key thing with this deal is that it’s led not centrally, miles away from the communities concerned, but locally by those who know Telford best – the people who live and work there.
“This shows that government and new towns can work innovatively to power further growth, and that we’re open to other new towns coming to us with ideas.”
Kate Henderson, chief executive of the Town and Country Planning Association, also attended Wednesday night's reception.
She said the new group would shine the political spotlight on the growth opportunities, as well as the challenges, that new towns faced.
“The new towns programme was the most ambitious large-scale town-building programme ever undertaken in the UK, providing homes and jobs for over 2.8 million people," she said.
"As a set of places, they exhibit a range of urban successes and failures, with some among the fastest growing communities in the UK and others the among the most deprived.
“With the Government supporting a new programme of garden cities, towns and villages, the all-party parliamentary group will provide a forum to learn the lessons – good and bad – of past new towns to help shape future policy."
