The Housing Secretary has set out Labour’s plans to build Britain’s first AI-powered town.
Steve Reed said automated infrastructure could be weaved into key parts of new modern garden cities being proposed by the Government.
The Cabinet minister told The Sun he wants to see new communities where roads, shops and care homes run on automation and robotics.
Labour has promised to begin construction on three new towns before the next general election.
The party’s pledge came after an independent report recommended a total of 12 locations for potential new towns.
The ‘towns for the future’ are a key part of the Government’s plan to build 1.5million new homes in England over five years.
It is hoped the building of new towns will copy the garden cities built in Britain in the early 20th century.
Mr Reed admitted it would be ‘a push’ for Labour to reach the target of 1.5million new homes but insisted he and fellow ministers were determined to achieve it.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed has set out Labour’s plans to build Britain’s first AI-powered town
The ‘towns for the future’ are a key part of the Government’s plan to build 1.5million new homes in England over five years
‘We’ve got an ageing population – what would a new town look like that would make it better and easier to age well?,’ the Housing Secretary said.
‘What would a modern garden city look like where you have automated infrastructure?
‘Could you have your own device that would give you information about what’s going on in the town and where more readily?
‘The only limit to what you could do is the creativity of the people that live there.’
It comes as mayors outside of London are being urged to set out ambitious social housing plans which will be backed by £7billion in funding.
Local leaders will be able to specify the types of homes needed in their areas and which sites to prioritise for construction as part of their funding bids.
Mr Reed urged councils to ‘go big, go bold and go build’.
The investment is part of the Government’s previously announced 10-year affordable housing programme, which totals £39billion.
Under the plans, Greater Manchester is expected to receive £1.8billion, West Midlands £1.7billion, the North East £1.1billion, West Yorkshire £1billion, and both Liverpool City and South Yorkshire likely to see a £700million boost.
Mr Reed said: ‘People who want a council home are sometimes stuck on the list for 10 or 20 years.
‘We need to start cutting those waiting lists down and give some people a place a decent home where they know they’re going to be secure for years to come and where they can afford to live.’
Questioned whether achieving 1.5 million new homes by 2029 is achievable, he added: ‘It’s going to be a push, but we’re going to get that number because people up and down this country need those homes to live in.’
