On 28 September the government confirmed plans to start delivering three new towns within this parliament. The preferred sites are Leeds, Bedfordshire and North London. It is one of the most ambitious housing commitments we have seen in years and it is already sparking debate.
For developers, it looks like opportunity. Thousands of new homes, major infrastructure and a pipeline that could run for years. But with the spotlight comes sharper expectations – from government, the press and most importantly, buyers.
Big opportunity, bigger spotlight
Three towns from a shortlist of twelve is no small task. These will not just be developments, they will be flagships. How they are built, how quickly they rise, and how buyers experience them will be seen as a measure of the sector as a whole. High-profile projects rarely escape scrutiny.
Where the pressure lands
It is not just about speed or volume. Buyers are less tolerant than ever of snagging chaos, missing paperwork or silence once the keys are handed over. National surveys keep pointing to the same frustrations. Add in the tightening net of compliance – from fire safety to legacy defect rulings – and the risks of “build it and move on” are obvious.
Buyers will judge more than bricks
These new towns will only work if they feel like communities people want to live in. That means estates that feel friendly, with problems fixed quickly and clear communication from day one. Buyers expect digital handovers, proactive defect management and some proof that developers actually care about life after completion.
How Ubrix helps
This is the gap Ubrix was designed to close. One platform covering the whole buyer journey, not just the sale.
Handovers are digital and easy to follow, not paper stuffed in binders.
Defects get logged and resolved faster, with contractors and site teams kept in the loop through their own app.
Every step is tracked, giving you a proper audit trail if questions ever come back.
Final word
The new towns agenda is a chance to reset how the industry is judged. Success will not be measured only in the number of homes built but in how buyers feel about living in them. Developers that invest in better aftercare and clearer communication now will come out of this remembered for building thriving communities, not just houses.
Let’s talk about how Ubrix transforms operations.