Leeds South Bank new town still on track as Government denies plans have lost momentum

Andy Burnham remains committed to delivering new towns in England including Leeds South Bank, the housing minister responsible for the policy has said, as he denied momentum behind the plans had been lost.

Matthew Pennycook, who now attends Cabinet under Mr Burnham’s leadership, said the Prime Minister’s recent announcements show he “wants to put a different emphasis on what the Government is doing”.

When questioned by the Lords Built Environment Committee on whether the new towns programme remains a priority as the Government’s focus had been elsewhere, he added: “The Prime Minister remains committed to the manifesto we stood on, were elected on.

“That includes in respect of a new generation of new towns.”

Under the Government’s plans, each new town will deliver a minimum of 10,000 homes with at least 40 per cent affordable housing.

Speaking at the time Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “The Leeds South Bank New Town is a once in a generation opportunity to deliver new homes in one of the UK’s fastest growing cities.

“The development will be supported by the West Yorkshire Mass Transit System and vital investment in Leeds Station, to unlock jobs and opportunity in the heart of the North.

“Alongside our partner Leeds City Council, we will deliver the new, high quality homes and communities that local people need and deserve.”

The Leeds South Bank new town, it is part of what the government is describing as the most ambitious housebuilding programme in more than half a century.

It will capitalise on the city’s economic momentum and the government’s £2.1 billion local transport investment.

Mr Burnham has made a series of pledges since entering No 10, including measures to ease the cost of living, end rough sleeping and cutting business rates for pubs and venues.

Last month, the Government allocated a share of nearly £10 billion to councils and housing associations in the first wave of funding to boost “genuinely affordable homes” and help deliver 1.5 million new homes over this Parliament.

But Mr Burnham faced accusations of watering down his ambitions after he previously called for the entire £39 billion social and affordable homes programme to be spent on council housing.

Mr Pennycook said his attendance at Cabinet is a “strong indication” of the importance of housing to the Prime Minister.

The minister added that the recent announcement on council housing showed Mr Burnham had “tweaked” some plans.

Mr Pennycook said: “He has got strong views on the subject.

“He has delivered in Greater Manchester, he has learned some lessons about what works and what doesn’t in Greater Manchester, which he is keen to to bring in and ensure that that is hardwired into the Government’s approach.

“I think the Cabinet position does give the department as a whole some extra tools and ability to have more of those direct conversations, particular with individual secretaries of state where we need to coordinate across Government to deliver.”

Referencing the decision to enable councils to deliver homes directly, he added: “I think that is an example of how we have pragmatically adapted the programmes to ensure that we can keep pace, keep delivery going, but slightly tweaked them to reflect the new Prime Minister’s priorities.”