Eamonn Boylan to step down from New Towns Taskforce

Interim Chair of Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), Eamonn Boylan, will step down from his role on the government’s New Towns Taskforce, ahead of taking on the interim Chief Executive role at Homes England in January 2025.

Boylan, who stepped down this year as Chief Executive at GMCA and previously also held that role at Stockport Council, will stand down from the New Towns Taskforce to ensure the body maintains its independence.

The New Towns Taskforce is an independent advisory panel which has been established to support the government to deliver the next generation of new towns. In his new role leading Homes England, Boylan will nevertheless continue to support the Taskforce in the coming months.

Lyn Garner has been appointed to take up Eamonn Boylan’s seat on the Taskforce. A Director and Chair of Future of London and the outgoing Chief Executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation, she has been the Senior Professional Lead for Greater London Authority (GLA) Group Housing Delivery since 2022.

Garner brings over 25 years of experience working in leadership positions across housing, regeneration and finance to the body. Her extensive real-world large-scale delivery experience will inform the Taskforce’s recommendations on the mechanisms and reforms required to ensure the delivery of the next generation of New Towns.

The New Towns Taskforce continues to make rapid progress to present their recommendations to ministers by summer 2025. Since September 2024, the Taskforce have met regularly to discuss the role that our next generation of new towns can play in kickstarting national economic growth. The Taskforce also launched a call for evidence in November which invited local areas to submit opportunities for large developments.