Starmer to unveil 'patriotic' plan for next generation of new towns

PM moves to heal party divisions with a pledge to build up to 300,000 homes at a dozen sites

- Rachel Sylvester

Keir Starmer will today announce plans for the next generation of new towns as the prime minister seeks to pit "patriotic national renewal" against "toxic division" at the Labour party conference.

As MPs and activists gather in a febrile mood, Starmer will promise to "sweep aside the blockers" to build tens of thousands of homes over the next decade. A dozen locations have been identified to create "exemplary communities" that ministers claim could eventually deliver up to 300,000 houses.

Construction will start in at least three places before the next election, with Tempsford in Bedfordshire, Leeds' South Bank and Crews Hill in Enfield, north London, earmarked as the most likely sites.

The government is taking inspiration from Clement Attlee's postwar housing programme, with GP surgeries, schools, green spaces and transport links included in the plans.