The Built Environment Committee has published its report on new towns

The Built Environment Committee has published its report, ‘New Towns: Creating Communities’, following the second module of its inquiry into new towns. The report includes a specific section on housing for older people, accessibility and inclusive design, and references to intergenerational placemaking.

The Committee’s key findings are:

• Placemaking should be people-centred, nature‑rich and locally distinctive
• Health and inclusion must be designed in from the start, not retrofitted
• Each new town should appoint an Accessibility Champion to oversee the design and construction process and avoid costly retrofitting. There should also be a central Accessibility Champion to provide oversight across all schemes.
• Masterplanning must be flexible, phased and infrastructure‑first.

The Housing LIN's Chief Executive, Jeremy Porteus, commented:

“I welcome the recommendations on age-friendly, intergenerational homes and places, accessibility and inclusive design listed on paragraphs 91, 103, 104 and 105 of the Committee’s report. They accord with the 2024 Older People’s Housing Taskforce recommendations as well as the APPG on Housing and Care for Older People Inquiry findings and recommendations on ‘Creating Intergenerational Communities’, published last week.”