The council aims to build 10,000 affordable units by 2032
A consultation on Manchester’s local plan to deliver at least 36,000 new homes between 2022 and 2032 has opened to the public.
The draft local plan has been drawn up by Manchester City Council and covers the areas within the local authority’s boundaries, which includes the city centre as well as an area in the south of Greater Manchester.
Manchester’s previous plan was adopted in 2012 and the current review was delayed until the Greater Manchester Places for Everyone (GMPE), which the city’s plan must align with, was adopted.
The draft proposal upholds the requirement to build 3,533 homes a year, as set out in the GMPE, which aims to promote development across nine Manchester districts.
It also looks to increase the target of affordable housing required from 20% to 30% in line with the region’s housing strategy, with 70% of this capped at social rent.
Manchester Living Rent and shared ownership options are also included in the affordable provisions, with a requirement for 80% to be for rented tenures and 20% for ownership.
Meanwhile, affordable housing as part of purpose-built student accommodation will be tested through a viability assessment, with at least 20% of all student bedspaces to be made available at an affordable rent, which is assumed to be 80% of the market rate.
Gavin White, executive member for housing and development at Manchester City Council, said: “We built more council and social homes last year than we’ve done in well over a decade.
“We have made a commitment to help build at least 36,000 homes up to 2032 – 10,000 of which will be affordable – and updates to the draft local plan looks to help us achieve and exceed this target.”
According to the draft document, at least 80% of the new homes will be built on brownfield sites, including across three main housing led allocations: Victoria North, Holt Town and Wythenshawe Centre.
Housing in the city centre is set to be “very high density”, accommodating around 65% of all new homes, with a large proportion expected to be two-bed units.
The local plan will run until 2040, with the total number of homes delivered set to hit 61,000.
In addition to the housing led allocations, around 7,000 homes will be built in growth locations identified in the plan. These are Newton Heath, Clayton Canalside, Grey Mare Lane, Lower Medlock sites and Ardwick Green.
Following initial public engagement, the council will review the draft plan and further consultation on the final draft next summer. The final proposals will then be submitted to the government for examination, with the council due to adopt the plan by the summer of 2027.
The consultation period will last eight weeks, closing at midnight on 17 November.
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