Labour’s new housing secretary pledges to kickstart construction on three new towns before the next general election, amid hopes to build 12 across England, but faces local opposition and scepticism over feasibility.
Steve Reed, the newly appointed housing secretary, has expressed frustration at the sluggish progress in housebuilding and pledged that construction will commence on three new towns before the next general election. These towns have been identified at Tempsford in Bedfordshire, Crews Hill near north London, and South Bank in Leeds. Reed, addressing the Labour conference, criticised the previous Conservative government for blocking housing development for 14 years, stating they “crushed the dreams of families” seeking affordable homes.
Reed’s announcement forms part of a broader government initiative aimed at building at least 12 new towns across England, each with the capacity to deliver a minimum of 10,000 homes. The overarching plan aims to contribute significantly to Labour’s promise of constructing 1.5 million new homes over the current parliamentary term. These new settlements are designed to be more than just housing projects; they are intended as fully integrated communities with essential infrastructure including public transport, schools, and affordable housing to support sustainable growth. The government’s ambition reflects a renewed drive to address the longstanding housing crisis by not only increasing the quantity of homes but also ensuring quality of life through comprehensive urban planning.
However, not all responses have been positive. Residents of Tempsford, one of the proposed new town sites, have voiced concerns about the lack of communication from government officials regarding the scale and impact of the development. The local parish council chairman described a “void of information,” leading to unease among the community. Such concerns highlight the challenges governments face in balancing rapid development with transparent engagement and community consent, especially in rural or semi-rural areas unaccustomed to large-scale urban expansion.
Reed also paid tribute to his predecessor, Angela Rayner, calling her a “true working-class hero” for her efforts on workers’ rights, council funding, and housebuilding, despite her resignation amid controversy over underpaid stamp duty tax. Reed’s remarks drew a standing ovation, projecting a sense of continuity and commitment within the Labour Party’s housing agenda.
Despite the ambitious plans, scepticism remains. Opposition figures like James Cleverly, the shadow housing secretary, dismissed the new town proposals as lacking credibility, suggesting they are empty promises unlikely to be realised. Reed acknowledged in media interviews that the pace of housebuilding has not met expectations, attributing delays mainly to the backlog of planning permissions left by the previous government. He emphasised his administration’s intent to reform planning rules to accelerate construction and prevent future bottlenecks—a critical factor in delivering on the housing targets.
These pledges must also be understood within the context of wider political dynamics. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is positioned to lead the party into the next general election with housing policy being a focal point of their platform, though internal party pressures and calls for renewed authenticity have also emerged from influential voices within affiliated unions.
Additionally, urban planning experts and business groups have stressed the importance of locating at least one new town within Greater London, taking advantage of the capital’s existing public transport infrastructure to better meet the city’s acute housing needs. This suggestion dovetails with Labour’s strategy to tackle housing shortages by developing thoughtfully planned new settlements reflecting local contexts.
Overall, while Labour’s commitment to starting construction on new towns is a significant development in UK housing policy, these plans will need to come with effective communication strategies, community consultation, and streamlined planning reforms. The success of these initiatives will be judged not just on the number of homes built but on the quality of communities created and the extent to which they address both current housing shortages and long-term social and economic needs.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative presents recent developments, including Steve Reed’s appointment as Housing Secretary on 8 September 2025 ([theplanner.co.uk](https://www.theplanner.co.uk/2025/09/08/starmer-appoints-steve-reed-housing-secretary?utm_source=openai)) and his pledge to commence construction on three new towns before the next general election. The earliest known publication date of similar content is 13 February 2025, when Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook announced plans for new towns to begin by 2029 ([bbc.com](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly7kn4z399o?utm_source=openai)). The report is not republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks. The narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. There are no discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes compared to earlier versions. The article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The direct quotes attributed to Steve Reed, such as his pledge to ‘build, baby, build’ and his criticism of the previous Conservative government, are consistent with his public statements. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, indicating potentially original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Guardian, a reputable organisation known for its journalistic standards. Steve Reed’s statements are corroborated by official government press releases and other reputable news outlets, enhancing the reliability of the information.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about Steve Reed’s appointment and his pledge to start construction on three new towns are plausible and supported by multiple reputable sources. The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is a minor concern. The report includes specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, and dates, enhancing its credibility. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic, and there is no excessive or off-topic detail unrelated to the claim. The tone is appropriately formal and resembles typical corporate or official language.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, with no significant discrepancies or recycled content. The quotes are original and consistent with Steve Reed’s public statements. The source is reliable, and the claims are plausible, supported by multiple reputable sources. Minor concerns include the recycling of older material and a lack of supporting detail from other reputable outlets, but these do not significantly impact the overall credibility.
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