New towns in the UK fit for the future?

Why the debate matters

Britain’s housing crisis is acute. The government has pledged to build 1.5 million homes within five years and plans to designate twelve new towns, each with at least 10,000 homes. The Times recently highlighted Houlton, near Rugby, where a disused radio‑station site is becoming a community of cafés, allotments and co‑working spaces. As the first new towns in decades are proposed, the key question is whether they will still be fit for purpose by the time they are completed, likely in the 2040 and 50s. At the rate at which technology and robotics are progressing, will what we are planning now be what is required then? Will we be Flintstones living in a Jetsons world?

A few lessons from the past

The UK’s post‑war programme created 32 new towns. Some, like Milton Keynes, grew into vibrant places with hundreds of kilometres of cycle paths and a high share of green space. Others, such as Cumbernauld, gained notoriety for soulless concrete centres and poor transport. These mixed outcomes show that location, early investment and community amenities matter. Modern developments like Houlton are learning from this: its developers built shops, cafés and a school before the first residents moved in and converted the historic transmitter building into a striking secondary school. Its all about community and what makes a community want to live in a town.

Will today’s plans be future‑ready?

Planning delays

Research shows that the planning process for very large developments can extend over many years. Housing sites of 2,000 or more homes take roughly eight years to deliver their first dwelling. With new towns expected to be delivered over three or four decades, designs locked in today may already feel dated when the first residents arrive.

Technology and sustainability

By the mid‑2040s, our homes will likely be intelligent, net‑zero and digitally connected. Tomorrow’s towns should be built with ultra‑fast connectivity (6G/7G), AI‑driven home management and energy‑monitoring systems that reduce consumption. Building automation can already cut energy use significantly, while modular and 3‑D‑printed construction promises faster, low‑waste building. The 15‑minute city concept, where all daily needs are within a short walk or cycle, is gaining traction and should underpin new masterplans. Conspiracy theorists feel free to go full tin hat!

Climate resilience and net‑zero

Net‑zero energy buildings that generate as much energy as they consume are becoming feasible. Ecodistricts like Hammarby Sjöstad in Sweden already use solar panels and biofuel heating. Britain’s new towns must integrate green infrastructure, flood mitigation and biodiversity corridors. They should also draw on smart city technologies such as sensors monitoring congestion and air quality – to manage resources efficiently.

Virtual Views and interiors

Surely in 30 years we will have some version of Star Trek's holo-deck within our homes. Apple and Meta et al are pioneering the meta verse and virtual reality. Our windows must show us views of the Alps or down town Hong Kong at the touch of a button or rather a voice command, and all surfaces will likely be enhanced to change colour or pattern.

Our view: new towns capture the future now and they absolutely must serve people

At Smith & Ericsson we welcome the renewed ambition to build new towns, but we caution that success depends on placing people at the heart of the process. We believe:

1. Community engagement is non‑negotiable. Residents must shape their neighbourhoods from the outset, avoiding the top‑down mistakes of past programmes.

2. Affordability must be embedded. Without a genuine mix of tenures and price points, new towns risk becoming enclaves for the affluent. The cost of a Houlton three‑bed home (£385,000) is already above average; scaling up affordable housing is essential.

3. Infrastructure must come first. Schools, healthcare, shops, co‑working hubs and public transport should be delivered before or alongside homes, as Houlton illustrates. Development corporations can help finance and coordinate this.

4. Design should foster wellbeing. Green spaces, walkable layouts and cycling networks are not optional extras. They are core to physical and mental health. The success of Milton Keynes’s redways and green space demonstrates the long‑term benefits.

5. Embrace digital infrastructure. New towns should be wired for smart homes, remote working, telemedicine and flexible micro‑mobility. Investment in fibre and 5G (and soon 6/7G) networks will make communities resilient to future shocks. Data‑driven management of energy, water and transport can reduce environmental impact and operating costs.

6. Plan for climate resilience. Towns built now will face hotter summers and wetter winters. Masterplans must integrate flood resilience, passive cooling, renewable energy, and biodiversity corridors.

   
   

In short, the government’s forthcoming new towns must be designed for the world of 2040, not just as life is now in 2025. If we build flexible, smart and sustainable communities today, they will still feel modern decades from now. If we get it right, new towns can alleviate the housing crisis and provide healthy, affordable lifestyles. If we fail to future‑proof them, we risk repeating history’s mistakes. While our new towns must not look like The Jetsons cartoon, and the image in this blog, they must make you feel like you live in one.