In this episode of Stonewater’s On the Air podcast, host Paula Palmer explores whether new towns can truly address the UK’s housing crisis. The discussion begins with Lord Richard Best, Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on New Towns, who shares insights from his extensive housing career and emphasizes the importance of linking housing with jobs, transport, and green spaces, while also touching on the need for flexible approaches to green belt reform and sustainable design principles.

Maurice Lange, Analyst at the Centre for Cities, adds an economic perspective, highlighting how proximity to cities drives growth and why location is critical for long-term success, and; finally, Matt Crucefix, Stonewater’s Director of Development (South and West), outlines opportunities for housing associations to influence planning early whilst discussing the challenges around planning reform, the need for collaboration between developers and councils, and how design codes can balance sustainability with affordability.