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13 January 2026 - New Towns - Oral evidence

Committee Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Inquiry New Towns

Tuesday 13 January 2026

Start times: 9:30am (private) 10:00am (public)


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New Towns - Housing Committee questions Housing Minister & Sir Michael Lyons, Chair, New Towns Taskforce

On Tuesday 13 January, the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee examines New Towns in a one-off evidence session with Sir Michael Lyons, Chair, New Towns Taskforce and Matthew Pennycook, Minister for Housing and Planning.

Meeting details

At 10:00am: Oral evidence
Work New Towns (Non-inquiry session)
Chair at New Towns Taskforce
Minister of State for Housing and Planning at Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Director for New Towns, Infrastructure and Housing Delivery at Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

The New Towns Taskforce report recommended 12 locations as potential new towns. In its response, the Government announced that it would begin building in at least three new towns in this Parliament and identified sites at Tempsford, Crews Hill and Leeds South Bank to look the most promising.

The cross-party Committee will question Sir Michael Lyons about the work of the New Towns Taskforce and on how the 12 locations were identified and under what criteria they were assessed. MPs are also expected to examine the degree to which local leaders were consulted and explore potential tensions between ambitious housebuilding targets and the aspirations for high quality new towns.

The Committee is also expected to probe Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook on the funding available for the development of New Towns, the provision of affordable housing, and how New Towns will be delivered.

Location

The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House

How to attend