Reed's 12 New Towns: Labour's Election Bet on 'Build, Baby, Build'

Croydon MP and Housing Secretary Steve Reed Pledges 'Whatever It Takes' to Deliver 1.5 Million Homes, as Labour's Election Promise Rests on Success – The political future of the Labour government, and the crucial election promise of delivering 1.5 million new homes, is now intrinsically tied to the success of Housing Secretary Steve Reed MP, who today is expected to unveil a massive new towns programme at the party's annual conference in Liverpool, Daily Dazzling Dawn understands.

Mr. Reed, the Member of Parliament for Streatham and Croydon North, will make a defiant pledge to "do whatever it takes to get Britain building," echoing the post-war Labour government’s historic housing push. His announcement comes just weeks after taking on the housing portfolio in a recent reshuffle, highlighting the government’s determination to tackle the severe housing crisis.

The cornerstone of the plan is the creation of 12 new towns across England, a move recommended by the New Towns Taskforce. Each settlement is planned to deliver at least 10,000 new homes, potentially resulting in a collective total of up to 300,000 houses over the coming decades. Critically, the government has welcomed the Taskforce's recommendation that at least 40\% of these new homes should be affordable housing.

Green Belt Site in North London Tipped for Major Development-Among the first three priority sites identified for construction—expected to begin before the next general election—is Crews Hill in Enfield, North London. This former rural hamlet, currently a small village of around 566 people known for its numerous garden centres and plant nurseries, is set to be transformed into a major new town with at least 10,000 homes.

The proposal is not without controversy, as Crews Hill is currently designated as Green Belt land. However, Enfield Council’s own Local Plan had already identified the area as "unique" in its capacity to accommodate a high proportion of new family housing, classifying it as "Grey Belt" in some reports due to its existing development and underutilised railway station. The local authority views the creation of a "significantly expanded neighbourhood" as an opportunity to deliver affordable family homes and necessary supporting infrastructure.

The other two priority locations are Tempsford in Bedfordshire and Leeds South Bank. A new riverside settlement in Thamesmead, Greenwich, is also a mooted possibility.

A New Post-War Approach to Building-In a direct parallel to Clement Attlee’s post-war government, Mr. Reed is expected to declare: "I am launching the next generation of new towns taking the lessons from the post-war Labour government housing boom… mobilising the full power of the state to build a new generation of new towns and restore the dream of home ownership to thousands of families across the country."

To accelerate development and ensure high-quality communities, the government will establish a "New Towns Unit." This unit will focus on securing both private and public investment for essential supporting infrastructure, including transport links, GP surgeries, schools, and open green spaces. The Unit will also collaborate with leading architects to give each new town a unique character, modelling the construction and planning effort on the successful regeneration of Stratford, East London, before and after the 2012 Olympic Games. This involves using a development corporation model with sweeping powers, including the ability to compulsorily purchase land and grant planning permission.

The urgency of the new towns initiative is underscored by recent figures showing a slump in housebuilding. Just last week, Mr. Reed described the low growth in planning applications—with 80,400 applications received between April and June 2025, down five per cent from the previous year—as "unacceptable."

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer threw his weight behind the plan ahead of the speech, stating: "My Labour Government will sweep aside the blockers to get homes built, building the next generation of new towns." With the government’s 1.5 million homes target on the line, the success of the new Housing Secretary and his ambitious 12-town programme is now a critical measure of Labour's delivery on its core election promises. Environmental assessments will be required before building can start in earnest at any location, including the Green Belt site at Crews Hill.