New Towns

Over the past ten years, the TCPA has been exploring the unique story of the New Towns; celebrating their opportunities and reflecting on their challenges in order to learn for their future growth and renewal, and to inform the creation of new places.

The New Towns programme, with its three phases between 1946 and 1970, was the most ambitious town building programme ever undertaken in the United Kingdom. Alongside legislation in Scotland and Northern Ireland, the New Towns Act 1946 led to the delivery of 32 New Towns across the UK. These towns are now home to around 2.8 million people.

Alongside researching the history and current state of the New Towns, the TCPA is campaigning for a Modernised New Towns Act, runs a local authority New Towns Network and provides secretariat for an All-Party Parliamentary Group on New Towns.

Become a member

Join our community of members to access our archive of recordings from past climate related webinars and workshops and receive discounts on future events.

New Towns Network

The TCPA New Towns Network brings together local authorities where the UK’s 32 New Towns are located to share experience through peer to peer learning and other activities

New Towns APPG

The TCPA is the secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on New Towns, which has been set up to celebrate the contribution made by the UK’s and to highlight the challenges they face.

Research

Our research explores what experience of delivering new communities from across the UK and beyond can teach us about New Towns today

Lessons from the TCPA’s New Towns Network

A new future for New Towns

This guidance provides an overview of some of the key lessons from the last decade of work, alongside the TCPA’s latest research into the current state of the New Towns and opportunities for their growth and renewal.