RTPI commissions research into futureproofing the next generation of new towns

A new research project commissioned by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) will explore how to futureproof the next generation of British new towns by learning from international experience.

Led by Professor John Sturzaker FRTPI of the University of Hertfordshire, the study will examine global examples of new town development to inform planning practice in the UK.

The project comes as the Government’s New Towns Task Force prepares to release its own report, which is expected to identify sites and delivery models for new developments across England.

The new research seeks to understand how future new towns can be designed to adapt to unforeseen change and avoid becoming outdated. It emphasises the importance of developments that are not only ambitious and community-led but also flexible, resilient, and capable of evolving over time.

To do this, the team will compile case studies that identify policy decisions that have helped new towns adapt to change, and decisions that have held them back. These changes may include shifts in how people live, work, travel, and spend their leisure time, as well as broader environmental and economic pressures such as climate change and natural disasters.

Initial findings will be published in July 2025, aligning with the release of the New Towns Task Force report. A full report will follow, and the project will conclude with the publication of a report laying out recommendations for planners delivering new towns around the world.

Dr Daniel Slade, Head of Practice and Research at the RTPI, said: “The Government’s new towns programme is crucially important, not just as a policy intervention that could shape thousands of lives, but as an illustration of what ambitious 21^st century planning can achieve.

“The stakes are high – a successful programme could reinvigorate our sense of the possible. A faltering programme that fails to produce futureproof places could bring disaffection. This research aims to drive the former and support the delivery of a wave of new towns that support flourishing communities.”

Professor John Sturzaker FRTPI, University of Hertfordshire, Project Lead, said: “The UK, and Hertfordshire in particular, has a proud history of pioneering garden city and new town development so we are delighted to be carrying out this research for the RTPI. The ambition inherent in the Government’s programme is huge and the opportunity to influence how it is delivered is exciting. There is a lot to learn from new towns around the world and we will be drawing on some of the very latest developments in Europe, Asia and the Americas. Our findings will help make sure that this next generation of new towns are adaptable to the inevitable changes we face in the future.”

In May, Professor Sturzaker gave evidence to the House of Lords Built Environment Committee which was conducting an inquiry into the practical delivery of new towns.