4 Response from the TCPA and the New
Towns Special Interest Group
16. In order to test the continuing relevance
of our predecessors' recommendations, and to judge the adequacy
of the Government's response, we sought responses to the Government's
memorandum from the Town and Country Planning Association, whose
Chair had suggested that we revisit this issue, and from the New
Towns Special Interest Group of local authorities, representing
a number of the local authorities which have continued responsibility
for the maintenance of the New Towns. We invited them in particular
to comment on:
- the extent to which the research
referred to in the Government memorandum had met the need which
our predecessor Committee had identified, particularly in respect
of the reinvestment needs of the New Towns; and whether further
research was either necessary or desirable; and
- the adequacy, in the light of the problems identified
by our predecessors, of the recent work on New Towns to which
the Government memorandum had also referred; and the extent to
which the Government was continuing to address the particular
needs of the New Towns.
17. The Town and Country Planning Association
welcomed the research which had been undertaken, describing it
as "useful", "helpful", and "an important
contribution to the debate". Crucially, however, it argued
that "the substantive research recommended by the Committee
- a proper evaluation of the New Towns programme - has still not
been carried out", continuing, "the TCPA urges the Government
to move to the next and more substantive stage of research on
this matter." The Association went on to suggest a number
of areas where "fuller research could prove immensely valuable
to fulfilling the current ambitions to deliver more homes and
new settlements in the form of eco-towns":
- the potential role for New
Town Development Corporations;
- strategies for land acquisition;
- the nature of the financing of the New Towns,
and the results in terms of overall deficits or surpluses to the
public purse;
- responsibilities for delivery and governance
and the relationships between the various agencies involved;
- the effect of the spatial planning of New Towns
on their social and economic sustainability.[22]
18. The New Towns Special Interest Group's
response likewise welcomed the research which has been done, saying,
"Jointly these two pieces of work comprehensively review
the areas identified by the TLGR Committee." However, it
continued,
the question of re-investment in the New Towns is
somewhat glossed over. It is not suggested that further extensive
research is required but a recognition (i) that infrastructure
[is] ageing at the same time and needing replacement; (ii) […]
that some early social provision, e.g. local centres, are no longer
fit for purpose and need replacing; and (iii) the fact that some
New Town estates which suffer from serious deprivation need intervention
in terms of community engagement and addressing the problems of
worklessness as well as through physical development [is] not
particularly strongly emphasised.[23]
19. Earlier, the memorandum comments, "Of
all the many issues facing local authorities with a legacy of
a New Town, [the need for reinvestment] is perhaps the most important
and yet it is consistently downplayed."[24]
A separate memorandum from Bracknell Forest District Council,
which focuses on the specific issues faced by that New Town, reinforces
the point.[25] The TCPA
agrees, commenting "the specific issues of New Towns today
reaching the need for a level of infrastructure investment which
goes beyond that in existing towns also merits further attention."[26]
20. The New Towns SIG's response also supports
the TCPA's comments on the nature of the research which has been
undertaken. "Given the overall scale of the New Towns Programme,"
the Group argues, "it is perhaps somewhat surprising that
the research has been substantially desk-based."[27]
The TCPA confirmed our impression that the research referred to
by the Government in its response to the Committee's question
on progress towards commissioning a "more thematic evaluation"
had little to do with evaluating the New Towns programme:
The TCPA is pleased that the Government partly commissioned
the TCPA study 'Best practice in Urban Extensions and New Settlements'
and believes this provides useful advice on the lessons to be
drawn from the case studies contained therein. […] However,
neither of these evaluated the postwar New Towns as recommended
by the Select Committee.[28]
22 Ev 7-9 Back
23
Ev 10 Back
24
Ev 9 Back
25
Ev 11 Back
26
Ev 8 Back
27
Ev 10 Back
28
Ev 7 Back
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