Plans are being made to boost the number of new homes for people to buy and to rent in Greater Manchester.
Latest figures show that fewer than 4,000 new homes are being completed every year instead of the 9,000 to 10,000 needed by the region’s growing population.
The shortfall means growing pressure on existing supplies and a shortage of homes for younger families as well as challenges to regeneration and the requirement for a higher number of quality private rented homes. GMCA has committed to a target of 9,200 new homes per year by 2015, and retrofitting 25,000 each year.
Chair of Greater Manchester planning and housing commission Cllr Sue Derbyshire said:
“We want to give the best possible housing choices to our residents so we need to find new ways of delivering all sorts of homes – whether that’s rented homes, affordable homes or homes to buy”.
The ten councils are considering setting up a new organisation ‘TopCo’ which could negotiate long term funding with the government, with Europe and other agencies. Pooled investments and pension funds could be approached, as well as wealth funds and major institutions.
Cllr Derbyshire said:
“Greater Manchester will develop as a centre of excellence for housing development. There will be strong relationships with housing functions in our local councils and this centre of excellence will not replace those district functions – the GM organisation will focus on housing development”
The TopCo strategic housing organisation will align closely with work on the Greater Manchester spacial framework, which will help ensure a pipeline of suitable sites for new housing in a co-ordinated and strategic way.
The plan will be considered by Greater Manchester combined authority on August 29.
The housing approach is one of the ways the ten local authorities are working together to create a truly great Greater Manchester, where everyone shares in this success (look out for #10WorkingAs1 on our social media sites).
Please see the Greater Manchester Strategy, Stronger Together, for more information about our growth and reform priorities.