The Government has unveiled its plan to “overhaul our housing system” in England over the next five years.
Angela Rayner announced the Government’s housing mission this week.
In a bid to “meet the needs of working people” and “put communities first”, the Deputy Prime Minister said the new Labour Government’s plan is to introduce mandatory planning targets on all local Councils in England that aim to build a whopping 1.5 million new homes within the next half decade, and at least 50% of those will be considered ‘affordable’.
The new targets will boost housebuilding in the areas “most in need”, according to Rayner, and will help more people buy their own homes, as well as help to drive growth and ultimately “make everyone in the country better off”.
We will deliver the homes needed right across the country.
🏠Building 1.5m new homes 🏠Prioritising affordable homes for social rent and first-time buyers 🏠Putting local people in control 🏠Delivering growth across the whole country
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) July 31, 2024
Rayner says the new rules set out this week will reverse the previous Government‘s decision last year to “water-down housing targets” by making them explicitly advisory at a time when planning permissions were said to be “at a record low”, and instead reflect the level of ambition that’s necessary to tackle the current housing crisis.
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These new targets are set to flow into the development of local plans, as the Government says it’s through local plans that communities get to have their say in the building of the homes and infrastructure they need.
Currently just a third of Councils have a plan that’s under five years old, which is why the Government wants to “take tough decisions” and “step in where needed” to drive progress and ensure local areas get a say on if and how homes are built.
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The Deputy Prime Minister has written to every Council leader and Chief Executive in England to make it clear that there is “not just a professional responsibility, but a moral obligation to see more homes built”.
She added that she will “not hesitate to use her powers of intervention” if it ends up being necessary, and this includes directly taking over an authority’s plan-making.
“This marks a significant step to getting Britain building again,” Angela Rayner announced.
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“Our decisive reforms to the planning system correct the errors of the past and set us on our way to tackling the housing crisis, delivering 1.5 million homes for those who really need them.
“And something I am personally proud of, our new flexibilities for councils will boost the number of social and affordable homes, and give working families a better route to a secure home.”
Featured Image – Benjamin Elliott (via Unsplash)
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The Strokes announce first Manchester gig in two decades
Daisy Jackson
The Strokes are finally set to return to Manchester for the first time in years, announcing a huge arena show today.
The iconic indie rockers have shared details of a new European tour, which includes a night at the massive Co-op Live arena here in Manchester.
The news comes hot off the heels of their celebrated Coachella set over the weekend.
The Reality Awaits Tour, named after their upcoming seventh studio album, will take The Strokes to Manchester as well as London and Newcastle, plus several cities across Europe.
The Strokes broke into the industry back in 2001 with their seminal debut album Is This It, which spawned massive indie anthems like Last Nite, Hard To Explain, and Sometimes.
Since then, they’ve released six studio albums, all of which have climbed into the top 10 of the UK Albums Chart.
You can expect to hear all sorts of fan favourites, like Reptilia, Juicebox, and You Only Live Once, plus new music including their latest single The New Abnormal.
Co-op Live said: “This is set to be an unmissable show as they come to Co-op Live for the first time and we can’t wait!”
Last time The Strokes played in Manchester, it was at the O2 Apollo way back in 2006 – the same year they supported Foo Fighters at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground.
They played Lytham Festival more recently, but haven’t ventured back into Manchester itself since.
The Strokes will play at Co-op Live in Manchester on 26 October 2026.
Tickets will go on sale at 10am on Friday 17 April HERE, with a number of pre-sales beginning from Wednesday 15 April.
Manchester Museum to close much-loved section for ‘major’ £200k redevelopment
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Museum has announced that it’s planning to close of its best-loved exhibitions.
Thanks to a grant of £200,000 from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund, Manchester Museum is planning a major redevelopment of its much-loved Vivarium.
The Vivarium has sat at the heart of Manchester Museum for more than 60 years, and is a centre for globally-significant conservation projects, caring for around 30 different amphibian and reptile species – many of which are critically endangered – in a bid to inspire generations of visitors.
Thanks to a pioneering partnership with Panama Wildlife Conservation Charity, which is just one of many projects designed to safeguard the future of endangered species and develop learning programmes that raise awareness of threats to biodiversity, Manchester Museum houses the world’s only captive ‘back-up’ population – which is why the redevelopment of the Vivarium is so important.
The funding grant will help to ‘revitalise’ public displays, and create new state-of-the art facilities and bespoke naturalistic environments for the amphibian and reptile species cared for by the Vivarium.
It will also allow the development of dedicated facilities for schools, teaching, and visiting tour groups, which the Museum hopes will ‘further enhance’ the gallery’s potential for learning.
During the redevelopment – which has been named the ‘Habitats of Hope’ project – new permanent displays will also be created that explore the connections between its wider collections and the animals it cares for.
Manchester Museum is set to close one of its much-loved sections for ‘major’ £200k redevelopment / Credit: Supplied
“Habitats of Hope speaks to how wonderful and how vulnerable the world’s rarest amphibians are” commented Georgina Young, who is the Head of Collections and Exhibitions at Manchester Museum.
“Major investment means Manchester Museum can match the highest standards of animal care with a more accessible visitor experience, while weaving stories of research, conservation, partnership and action that stretch from thriving ponds in Manchester to hyper-biodiverse ecosystems in Costa Rica and Panama.”
Emily Sergeant -
1st August 2024 
