The Department of Communities and Local Government(DCLG) annonunces the Eco Towns as a response to the challenges of climate change, the need for more sustainable living and the acute housing shortage.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister under John Prescott changes to the Department of Communities and Local Government (now) under Minister for Housing and Planning, Caroline Flint.

The Office of the Deputy prime Minister (ODPM, now DCLG) annonunces the Growth Areas.

The new town Bracknell is designated with 1,900 hectares and 45 km from London.

The new town Basildon is designated with 3,120 hectares and 48 km from London.

The new town Glenrothes is designated with 2,300 hectares and 50 km from Edinburgh.

The new town Welwyn Garden City is designated with 1,750 hectares and 35 km from London.

The new town Hatfield is designated with 950 hectares and 32 km from London.

The new town Peterlee is designated with 1,080 hectares and 16 km from Durham.

The new town East Kilbride is designated with 4,100 hectares and 41 km from Glasgow.

The new town Aycliffe is designated with 1,000 hectares and 19 km from Durham.

The new town Harlow is designated with 2,560 hectares and 40 km from London.

The new town Hemel Hampstead is designated with 2,420 hectares and 47 km from London.

The new town Crawley is designated with 2,450 hectares and 48 km from London.

The New Town and Country Planning Act 1947. Invested the development right of land in the State and made it obligatory for local planning authorities to prepare a development plan.

The new town Stevenage is designated with 2,530 hectares and 50 km from London.

Following the recommendations by the Reith Commission, statutory provision for the establishment of new towns in Great britain is first made in the The New Towns Act 1946.

Labour Election Victory

Following the Abercombie Plan for London, the governnment set up a committee chaired by Lord Reith. Within a period of nine months the Reith Committee had published three reports which contained a blueprint for the administrative and financial machinery needed for the creation of new towns and recommendations concerning their size, lay-out and economic and social structure. These reports were generally accepted by the government as the basis of its policy.

The Town and Country planning Act 1944. This facilitates Blitz reconstruction

Sir Patrick Abercombie publishes teh greater London Plan. The plan proposees that a series of towns be developed accomodationg between 60,000 - 80,000 people and industry from the overcrowded capital. Recommends sites about 25-30 miles outside of London.

Up to June there are up to 155 local authority areas (inlcuding London Metropolitan areas) in England and Wales where more than 100 dwellingss have been destroyed or damaged beyond repair. Forty-one of these areas suffered loss or damage of more than 1,000 dwellings.

The Town and Country planning Act (Interim Development) 1943. This brings under planning control all land which was not yet subject to planning schemes.

A central planning authority for England and Wales is established as the Minsitry of Works and Planning. This later became Ministry of Town and Country Planning and concentrated solely on planning.

‘A Plan for New britain’ is published by Picture Post embracing a series of articles on post-war physical reconstruction.

Report of the Royal Commission on the geographical Distribution of the industrial population. Chaired by Sir. Montague Barlow: questions the unbalance distribution of industry and the industrial population; stresses the need for government to initiate national planning to redress existing problems.

Report of the Royal Commission on the geographical Distribution of the industrial population. Chaired by Sir. Montague Barlow: questions the unbalance distribution of industry and the industrial population; stresses the need for government to initiate national planning to redress existing problems.

German Air raids on British cities start in September.

Ebeneezer Howard the Garden City Movement. The Three Magnets Drawing becomes the emblematic symbol of his vision.

Welwyn Garden City is established 36 miles north of London.

Latechworth Garden City is established 35 miles north of London.

Between 1800 and 1900, the proportion of the population living in the large towns rose from about 20 to 80 percent as a result of the labour demands of the industrial revolution.

The Garden City Association is formed to promote aims put forward by Ebeneezer Howard. This later becomes the Town and Country Planning Association.

Ebeneezer Howard publishes "To-Morrow: A Peaceful Path to Real Reform" and thus initiates the Garden City Movement. The Three Magnets Drawing becomes the emblematic symbol of his vision.