The Government has confirmed it will move forward with plans for new towns and large-scale regeneration to deliver more homes across England after an independent report recommended 12 possible sites.
Ministers said at this stage sites at Tempsford, Crews Hill and Leeds South Bank look most promising.
They want to start building at least three new towns during this Parliament and could extend the work to more locations if it is possible.
Plans have been set out to create a new towns unit to oversee the work and help remove barriers to building.
The unit will work with other departments to make sure the new towns can test out new ideas.
The new towns taskforce, led by Sir Michael Lyons, was asked to look at large-scale development options.
In its report, the taskforce recommended a mix of urban extensions, regeneration projects and new standalone sites.
According to the report, each new town should have at least 10,000 homes, aim for at least 40% affordable housing, and half of those should be for social rent.Â
Additionally, the report called for delivery bodies that can provide long-term certainty for new communities.
A strategic environmental assessment will be carried out to check the environmental impact of building the new towns.
No final decisions will be made until this work is finished, and preferred sites could change depending on the results.
The Government said it would only back sites that can be delivered efficiently and in partnership with local communities, have a clear economic purpose, and support growth.
It will also test different delivery models to see what works best for building large settlements.
Draft proposals and the results of the assessment will go out for consultation in spring.
Final sites will be confirmed after this and a full government response to the taskforce report will be published.
The 12 locations recommended were: a standalone settlement at Adlington, Cheshire East; a corridor of development in South Gloucestershire at Brabazon and the West Innovation Arc; expanded development at Chase Park and Crews Hill in Enfield; redevelopment of the former airbase at Heyford Park in Cherwell; urban development in Leeds South Bank; and inner city development and densification at Manchester, Victoria North.
Other sites include a standalone settlement in Marlcombe, East Devon; a renewed town in Milton Keynes with expansion and a new transport system; densified development in Plymouth; a new settlement at Tempsford, Central Bedfordshire; a riverside settlement at Thamesmead, Greenwich; and expanded development at Worcestershire Parkway, Wychavon.
