These recommendations come from our most recent report What is being built in 2025?
1. Transit-oriented development serving residents from day one of occupation
We believe, above all else, that transit-oriented development is the way forward
This means new towns planned around better public transport, connected with metros, tram systems and comprehensive bus networks. There are a number of expanding city regions in England that consist of an urban centre and a hinterland of fast-growing satellite towns and new outer suburbs.
These places need to be connected by building public transport infrastructure and coordinating the construction of new homes with this. Public transport must be available to residents on day one
2. New homes must be built in better locations
The planning system must encourage building in more sustainable locations
Local authority housing targets and developer-led choices of where to build new homes are central to our current planning system. Decisions of where we build new homes needs a more evidence-based approach. The site selection process must be driven by strategic plans that go across local authority boundaries with a public transport accessibility test to discover where is best to build. Places must be selected that will work with new transport infrastructure investment to promote regeneration, economic growth and good access to services.
The process of plan making enshrined in the National Planning Policy Framework needs to be revised to make this kind of wider area planning possible.
3. Deliverable masterplans that create delightful walkable places
Larger sites for housing need a masterplan and funding to deliver it
Mayoral strategic authorities must be able to govern, manage, plan and develop the rail and bus networks in order to integrate them with new homes. But just as important, the layout, density and type of housing in a new area must be planned by local authorities so it best makes use of these transport networks.
Transport and land use planning must be tied together at the local authority level. The current planning system needs to change to make this new emphasis possible. Adequate funding must be made available to fully realise masterplans for delightful walkable places.
