Latest news with #newtowns
The Sun
10-05-2025
- The Sun
UK's oldest ‘new town' home to award-winning free attraction and is just 20 minutes from London
THE first wave of 'new towns' in the UK started back in the 1940s - and those who want to visit the oldest should head to Stevenage. The New Town was founded in 1946 to house Londoners after World War II and relief the over-crowding and shortages of homes in the city. 5 5 The goal set by the government was to provide housing, employment, and a healthier environment for families relocating from London. Stevenage remains split into two parts, the Old Town and New Town. The Old Town side of Stevenage has retained its historical charm with a small high street and Grade I listed buildings. The award-winning attraction, Fairlands Valley Park is in part of the New Town of Stevenage. Fairlands Valley Park is also award-winning having been recognised with several Green Flag Awards, celebrating its high standards as a green space. It won a Green Flag Award for 10 consecutive years between 2010 and 2020. It was also once voted as one of the UK's leading free visitor attractions. Inside the park is a completely free play park suitable for children with swings, climbing frames and tunnels. Fairlands Valley Park is also home to a splash park which will open on May 25, for the summer season. The splash park is completely free and there you'll find fountains, interactive water features as well as a food kiosk. The historic UK town with the largest Japanese cherry tree orchard in the world 5 5 The park itself is set across 120 acres in the heart of Stevenage, and 11 acres of that is a sailing lake. The Sailing Centre within the park offers wet and non-water activities for adults and children - which do require a fee. On the lake, you can do canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing, angling, and even powerboat courses. On land, the centre runs classes like orienteering, power kiting, grass sledging and there's also a new ropes course and climbing wall. In total though there are four lakes in the park. The others are the Millennium Lake which is used for boating, the Environment Lake is where you'll find wildlife from amphibians, squirrels and foxes. There's also the Balancing Pond which is at the Fairlands Farm End and only turns into a lake during heavy rainfall. Also during the summer, a huge Aqua Parcs inflatable assault course is set out on the main lake with multiple slides and obstacles. Throughout the year, inside the park is hosted events like markets, festivals, car shows and boot sales as well as Christmas light switch-on. Anyone wanting to head to Fairlands Valley Park from London will be pleased to know that a journey can take as little as 20 minutes from Kings Cross station. Plus, our . And a . .
The Guardian
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Parliament wants your views on new towns
Polly Toynbee is right to point out the atmosphere of urgency around Labour's ambitious proposal for a new towns programme and the new towns taskforce's investigation (Inside Labour's top-secret plan for new towns, I see signs of hope, 24 April). The government's sweeping planning policy reforms have demonstrated its commitment to a programme that will have major consequences for the construction sector, local and regional authorities, existing and would-be homeowners, and future generations, to say the least. This policy cuts across issues of critical national importance, from infrastructure and economic growth to communities and the environment. Now is the time for persistent, thoughtful inquiry into the government's plans for new towns. As chair of the built environment committee in the House of Lords, I'm proud to be leading our inquiry into new towns and expanded settlements. The first module of our inquiry is officially under way, and we're conducting public evidence sessions focusing on the practical delivery of new towns. Our panels of experts are giving us invaluable insights into the merits and risks of different strategies, which you can read on our website. If the government chooses the right model for this generation of new towns, there could be substantial benefits for all. But a wrong move now could send their plans the way of the 2000s ecotowns policy, wasting another opportunity to deliver attractive, viable, livable housing at scale. To help guide the government in making the best possible decisions as it pushes this policy, our recommendations need to be fully informed, so we want to hear from as many people and organisations from across the country as possible. Until 12 May, you can submit your evidence for the first module of our inquiry here. Benjamin Gascoigne Chair, House of Lords built environment committee
