CIAT responds to New Towns Taskforce interim policy statement

CIAT has welcomed the interim policy statement from the New Towns Taskforce, setting out their vision for the next generation of new towns.

Responding to the announcement, Eddie Weir PCIAT, CIAT President, said:

Addressing the housing crisis in the UK is foundational to economic growth, enabling people to live safe, secure and rewarding lives. CIAT supports the development of the next generation of new towns, and we welcome this update as a key marker towards this goal.

New towns must be places where people want to live and must be built for the long term. We welcome the Taskforce’s ambition to deliver well-connected, sustainable communities supported by strong social infrastructure. Delivering that vision means integrating coherent planning and design at all levels, from spatial planning to architectural design.

At the same time, the vast majority of the homes and buildings that the UK will need by 2050 already exist, and these communities must not be neglected. In particular, the task of retrofitting homes and buildings so that they are sustainable and resilient to a changing climate is only becoming more urgent and CIAT looks forward to the publication of an ambitious Warm Homes Plan as soon as possible.

Chartered Architectural Technologists will continue to support these twin priorities, bringing their unique skills to bear to deliver a safe and sustainable built environment that meets the needs of current and future generations.