Transport for New Homes publish an annual What is being built? report based on surveys of new housing developments in England. We find out if there are good places to live for those who don’t want to drive, can’t drive or can’t afford the expense associated with buying and running a car.
Posts from this project
- Ten years of Transport for New Homes
In 2026, Transport for New Homes turns ten years old. - Another way of building new homes and faster too
There is another way to build new homes quickly and sustainably. - Poundbury is a case study in getting transport right
Poundbury is mixed development built around streets and walkable community facilities. - Safe and convenient cycling networks must go beyond development boundaries
New housing needs to be connected to safe and convenient cycle routes. - Trams and light rail are not reaching out of the cities
Tram networks should reach out of cities to connect with new developments. - Buses are falling short of their potential
Every new housing estate should be served by bus. - Rail is missing from new housing estates
Large new housing areas in England were very rarely built with a new station to cater for future residents. - What places designed around the car look like
Urban form follows the transport modes that are available. - Apartments can offer everything on your doorstep
Apartments offer so much compared to lower density estates. - Three recommendations for planning reform
Based on our most recent report we suggest three changes. - Transport for New Homes responds to Planning and Infrastructure Bill
PRESS RELEASE: Responding to the publication of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill - ‘Jigsaw puzzle’ developments are creating car-dependent estates
New housing estates have some of the most important pieces missing.
Background
Transport for New Homes have for some years been visiting new housing developments in person.
Our aim is to find out whether these are properly served by good public transport and designed for walking and cycling. And we don’t just mean within the development itself, but to places nearby.
Ultimately our questions are: could you easily live in the new homes without having to drive and is the place shaped around the needs of people and a good environment to live, rather than around the car?
Fieldwork
For our latest What is being built? report we carried out more visits than before. Therefore we are very lucky to have the help of volunteers to visit new developments. Volunteers use our site visit report form and can claim travel expenses. They take photos which are uploaded and we hope to use these in our upcoming report, website and other publications.
What is being built in 2026? call for volunteers
Our volunteers make our reports possible. Their reporting back from visits to new housing estates and photographs make our findings more detailed and rich. Please sign up now to be included in our next cycle of visits.