Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what account they will take of (1) Places we’re proud of published by the National Policy Advisory Board on Gypsy and Traveller Housing, and (2) the Gypsy and Traveller Site Design Guide, published by Leeds City Council in September 2020, in their plans for new towns as announced on 13 October.

On 28 September, the government published the independent New Towns Taskforce report as well as its initial response. The government welcomes all 12 of the potential new towns locations recommended by the Taskforce.

Ministers and officials will now begin work with local partners to develop detailed proposals and enhance our understanding of how different locations might meet the government’s expectations of what a future New Towns Programme can deliver, with all promising sites and reasonable alternatives assessed and considered through the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) process. This will support final decisions on precisely which locations we take forward as well as the final approach to placemaking and delivery.

We also made clear that we support the placemaking approach recommended by the Taskforce and are encouraged by the aims of its recommended placemaking principles.

The government will publish draft proposals and a final SEA for public consultation early next year, before confirming the locations that will be progressed as new towns later in the Spring alongside a full response to the New Towns Taskforce’s report, including further detail on delivery and funding models.