STANTEC has released a new report revealing how the development industry can change negative perceptions of new towns and bring forward the communities of the future.
New Towns: Creating Communities, Building Trust was published at a private industry event, in which chair of the new towns taskforce, Sir Michael Lyons gave a keynote address.
The report includes new national polling from YouGov, and sets out the challenging state of public perceptions of new towns. It shows the need to go further to demonstrate the potentially transformative benefits of these new communities. Twelve key recommendations in the report establish how to rebuild the trust of the public and deliver new towns that will meet the needs of people across the country.
Headline MRP analysis mapping public perception across 349 British local authorities suggests that only a quarter (25%) of Britons find the idea of moving to a new town appealing. Most positivity around moving is clustered around areas with high housing demand or poorer affordability, predominantly within London, but also across Manchester, Leicester, Birmingham, Oxford, and Cambridge.
The report also identifies which characteristics are most likely to draw people to a new town. Healthcare, amenities, connectivity, local safety, and affordability of bills are aspects that scored highly across all respondents. Analysis of the data shows that across all demographics, there is a consistent view of the top three most important things to focus on when planning and designing a new town: quality and longevity; positive environmental impact; and community wellbeing.
Brian Yates, Stantec UK & Ireland MD, said, “The findings in this report should give pause to our industry, but the solutions are clear and give reasons to hope that this next generation of new towns could be truly transformational for people across the country. This will only be the case if our sector can demonstrate that we are listening to what people want and need from new development, that our visions can be ambitious, and that we deliver what we promise.
“Stantec sees first-hand the enthusiasm and expertise of a sector ready to meet this challenge and drive solutions. Now is the moment for us all to grasp the immense opportunity in front of us. Access to safe, secure housing, and being part of a thriving community, helps life outcomes, from health and wellbeing to education and economic attainment. These won’t just be construction projects, they are a chance to improve the lives of tens of thousands of people.”
Sir Michael Lyons, chair of the new towns taskforce, added, “Stantec is providing important leadership in bringing the development sector together to deliver the next generation of new towns. By working together and embracing innovation, we can leave a lasting legacy.”
