NEW PLANS FOR NEW HOMES IN GREATER MANCHESTER

Plans are being made to boost the number of new homes for people to buy and to rent in Greater Manchester – including Rochdale borough.

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.

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 10 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.

Councillor Richard Farnell, leader of Rochdale Borough Council, said: “Rochdale welcomes the ambition and challenge of Greater Manchester to increase the housing numbers across the conurbation. Over the past three years, 1,200 new homes have been built in our borough.

“As part of the joint working at a GM level Rochdale has allocated a number of sites that can be brought forward to significantly increase the numbers of homes delivered in the Borough over the next three years as part of our contribution to delivering the 9,000 to 10,000 needed by the region’s growing population.”

The plan will be considered by Greater Manchester combined authority today (August 29).

The housing approach is one of the ways the 10 local authorities are working together to creating 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.