How will new towns deliver the housing Londoners’ need?

In September 2024, the Government established the New Towns Taskforce as an independent advisory panel to recommend sites and approaches for a generation of new towns. Its final report, published in September 2025, identified 12 potential locations across England, including two within London - Crews Hill and Chase Park and Thamesmead Waterfront. 

Crews Hill could deliver up to 21,000 homes, while Thamesmead Waterfront could accommodate 15,000 homes, with scope for further growth linked to transport upgrades such as a potential DLR extension. The Taskforce and the Mayor of London have both stressed that major improvements to transport infrastructure would be essential.

To explore how the new towns would work in practice, and what planning policies and governance arrangements may be needed, the London Assembly Planning & Regeneration Committee is meeting tomorrow to conduct an investigation into the proposed London sites.

As part of this investigation, Members will hear from experts to determine what potential can be unlocked with good planning and how to better design and build new towns that actually serve Londoners and their needs.

The guests include:

Panel One 

• Dr Thomas Aubrey, Visiting Senior Fellow, The London School of Economics and Political Science; 

• Charlie Berry, Policy Manager, Shelter; 

• Kane Emerson, Head of Housing Research, YIMBY Alliance; and 

• Tom Perry, Director of Urbanism and Landscape Projects, The King's Foundation.  

Panel Two 

• Guy Courtois, Founder, Pour Une Renaissance Urbaine;  

• James O'Malley, Freelance Journalist and Podcaster; 

• Susan Parham, Associate Professor, University of Hertfordshire; and 

• John Walker, Former Deputy Chief Executive, Milton Keynes Development Corporation, and Former Chief Executive, Commission for New Towns.
• Esther Everett, Director of Placemaking, LLDC  

The meeting will take place on Wednesday 28 January 2026 from 2pm in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE. 

Media and members of the public are invited to attend.

The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.

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