Housing provider joins influential city group with aim of improving housing choice
London housing association and developer L&Q has joined the Manchester Housing Providers’ Partnership (MHPP).
Having put forward its business case for growth in the area, L&Q has been welcomed to the group, which works hard to collectively improve housing choice in the city and give everyone access to a decent home.
Partnership work is critical to L&Q’s approach to tackling the housing crisis, and the developer is currently working closely with partners on 12 live sites in Greater London and Greater Manchester, to maximise impact. This includes joint ventures with private developers and partnerships with local authorities.
The MHPP brings together the registered housing providers and the city council in partnership to facilitate local delivery on key strategic themes. These include growth and the delivery of affordable homes, community safety, homelessness, zero carbon, as well as employment and skills.
The registered provider is encouraging other registered providers and partners to interrogate their own pipelines and appetite for development, in a call to action to deliver housing at scale.
Ben Townsend, New Business Director NW for L&Q, said: “We are thrilled to join the MHPP and benefit from the collective experience and drive of partners to improve the housing offer in Manchester, whilst sharing our experience, best practice and specialisms in development.
“Since L&Q joined together with Trafford Housing Trust in 2023, following a joint venture launched in 2019, we have been developing our ambition to deliver growth and much needed new homes across Greater Manchester. At L&Q, we pride ourselves on delivering maximum impact through strategic, place-shaping projects at scale and look forward to contributing with partners to meet these ambitions in the region.”
Nick Horne, Chair of MHPP and Chief Executive at Wythenshawe Community Housing Group, said: “L&Q have a strong reputation across the country as a significant investor in homes and communities and are a welcome and valued new member of the Partnership. I’m confident their experience, capacity and contribution will enhance our collective capability to deliver the ambitious targets of the Manchester Housing Strategy, which include 36,000 new homes by 2032, 10,000 of which will be affordable homes”
L&Q is currently on site at the Victoria Riverside development in Manchester, part of Victoria North, delivered in partnership with developer Far East Consortium (FEC) and Manchester City Council. This will bring forward 128 apartments for shared ownership, which L&Q has recently launched for sale.
Victoria Riverside will be one of the largest developments of affordable homes in Manchester’s city centre for many years, as well as one of the city’s most significant regeneration schemes. It is L&Q’s first major project in Manchester city centre, as the developer consolidates its growth into strategic areas for development.
