Milton Keynes named in government project to build new towns across UK

Milton Keynes has been named by the government as one of seven areas across the UK to build a new town.

A project that has been endorsed by the government would involve expanding the city by around 40,000 homes and build a new local transport system in the city centre, with the idea being that this would boost connectivity in the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor.

A public consultation on proposed locations and draft planning policy is open until Monday 18 May and will be published shortly.

Final locations will be confirmed later this year after the consultation and Strategic Environmental Assessment take place, along with any further required environmental assessment.

Milton Keynes was suggested as a potential location by the government’s New Towns Taskforce, which published its report in September 2025 and saw the city named as one of 12 locations for consideration.

Tempsford in Bedfordshire, Crews Hill and Chase Park in the Enfield area of North London, Thamesmead in East London, Brabazon in South Gloucestershire and areas of Leeds and Manchester were also selected by the government to take forward.

Six further locations across the country had also been assessed by the proposals but were not taken up.

In a statement, the government said that, “these new towns will create affordable and balanced communities with the schools, health facilities and community infrastructure neighbourhoods need, supported by high quality public transport and walking and cycling infrastructure.

“To ensure that new towns are built in a holistic way, that meets communities’ growing needs, government is taking a cross-government approach to ensure the utilities, health, education, and digital infrastructure to underpin new towns from the outset.

“Alongside the new towns consultation, the government has also confirmed today that the National Housing Bank will launch on 1 April. It will be backed with up to £16bn of financial capacity and will aim to deliver over 500,000 new homes.”

The government’s Housing Secretary Steve Reed said, “People want real change – homes they can afford, local infrastructure that works, and good jobs in thriving communities. Our next generation of new towns marks a turning point in how we build for the future.

“From the ground up, we’re planning whole communities with homes, jobs, transport links, and green spaces designed together — so we can give families the security and opportunities they deserve.”