new towns planned urban communities in Great Britain, developed by long-term loans from the central government and first authorized by the New Towns Act of 1946. The chief purpose of the act was to reduce congestion in the great cities (or at least prevent its increase) through the creation of attractive, healthful urban units that would provide local employment for their residents. The idea goes back to the book by Ebenezer Howard on "garden cities" (1898). It was given impetus by the example of the "new towns" of Letchworth (1903) and Welwyn Garden City (1919-20), both established... Read more