‘Housing for the North’ body vital to Manchester’s powerhouse position

CALLS for a National Housing Service are being made to ensure Manchester hits its target of 10,000 new homes and retains its Northern Powerhouse position.

As part of the ambitious plans, new infrastructure in the shape of HS2 and the Metro-Link extension aims to create a ‘super connected’ north that has the potential to draw businesses, investment and the brightest talent to the region.

However, with only 4,000 new homes being constructed each year, compared to the required 10,000, this position could be placed at risk, says Arcadis, the global design and consultancy firm.

It says that creating a Housing for the North (HfN) organisation could provide the mandate for direct public delivery of housing around Greater Manchester within a devolved regional structure, and would ensure that homes of all tenures are built.

This approach would ensure that enough housing is in the areas where people want to live and also meet the growing needs of a city that is anticipating unprecedented levels of population growth over the coming years, Arcadis said.

Jon Moore, regional city executive for Manchester at Arcadis, said: “If our city is going to live up to its potential it will need to fight hard to attract businesses and a skilled workforce. The north and east Manchester council areas, in particular, would welcome greater levels of employment and investment. In reality, though, all the other pieces of the puzzle are in place with the notable exception of housing. We are currently building less than half of what we need and it’s putting Manchester’s positon as the engine room of the northern powerhouse at risk. If we cannot house people close to where we need them, all our best laid plans will come to nothing.

“Locations near to Metro-Link stations enjoy higher demand and stronger local housing markets so these are precisely the sort of areas we should be targeting. Introducing a Housing for the North body to oversee the construction of the 10,000 homes we need each year is vital to our city’s growth. The modern workforce wants to be close to the city, flexible, mobile and, most importantly, be able to afford the rent. This sort of public body would be self-funding and could deliver the right type of homes in the right places, more quickly and effectively than any other model out there.”