The UK government is committing nearly £10bn nationwide—including £529m specifically for Greater Manchester—to build tens of thousands of council, social, and affordable homes. Designed to move families off waiting lists and out of temporary shelter, this initial funding wave targets over 70,000 new homes across England, with 4,400 planned for Greater Manchester.
To help address the nearly 180,000 children currently living without permanent housing, roughly 60% of the new builds will be dedicated to Social Rent, the country’s most affordable rental option.
“No child should be raised in a hostel room, and no family should wait ten years for a front door of their own,” said Prime Minister Andy Burnham. “I have said from my first day in this job that everything starts with a good home.
“Nearly £10 billion will go to councils and housing associations to build genuinely affordable homes, most of them for social rent, in the places where families are waiting longest. Councils built this country out of a housing crisis once before. Backed properly, and trusted to get on with it, they will do it again.”
This is only the first stage of a ten-year programme, however, with more than £16bn remaining to be allocated outside London. In total, the government will set aside £39b for its Social and Affordable Homes Programme. The money will go to 33 Strategic Partners, i.e. councils, housing associations and other providers, which secure long-term funding to deliver homes at scale.
The £10bn package announced on Tuesday (August 25) supports the delivery of 73,600 new social and affordable homes across England over the next ten years—the largest expansion of council housing in decades—with over £2bn expected to be spent in Mayoral areas outside of London. It also builds on the government’s commitment to deliver 1.5 million homes this Parliament.
“Families can’t be left raising children without a place to call home, and none of us should spend years waiting for somewhere safe and affordable to live,” said Secretary of State Angela Rayner. “I know how important fixing this is – because I’ve been there. A safe and secure home was the foundation for a better life – I couldn’t have got to where I have today without it.”
Regional funding breakdown:
- Greater Manchester: £529m estimated spend to support c. 4,400 homes
- West Midlands: £409m estimated spend to support c. 3,200 homes
- North East: £445m estimated spend to support c. 3,400 homes
- West Yorkshire: £441m estimated spend to support c. 4,000 homes
- Liverpool City Region: £380m estimated spend to support c. 3,100 homes
- South Yorkshire: £249m estimated spend to support c. 2,200 homes
