Manchester City Council has unveiled a new housing strategy, and it looks to bringing 36,000 new homes to the area over the next 10 years.
In a bid to create “diverse, sustainable, and long-lasting communities” across Manchester, the Council has decided to give the city’s housing strategy a refresh and update it to meet the demand for all types of homes – which crucially includes the ambitious commitment to building a whopping 36,000 more before the year 2032.
10,000 of these homes will be social and affordable housing, according to the Council.
The Council said it will need to work closely in partnership both the private and public housing sectors to achieve this ambition set out.
At least 80% of all the new homes set to be built over the next decade are on Brownfield sites close to public transport links, according to the Council, and there are also plans to build 3,000 new large affordable family homes by 2032 as well with the aim of tackling overcrowding in parts of the city where families are bigger.
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The new housing strategy also includes building more homes for older people that are “the right size” and appropriate for their needs.
We have launched our new Housing Strategy for the next ten years that will deliver the homes that Manchester people need over the next decade – creating diverse, sustainable, and long-lasting communities.
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) June 16, 2022
Aside from the ambition to build tens of thousands of new homes, planners are also committed to supporting 15,000 more people get on the property ladder over the next 10 years, and the Council is looking to do this by increasing the number of Shared Ownership and Rent To Buy homes delivered too.
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With Manchester’s target to become a zero carbon city-region by 2038 also in mind, the Council says that at least a third of the city’s 70,000 social homes will be retrofitted to low carbon standards by 2032.
50% of the new homes built by 2025 will also be low or zero carbon.
“We believe that everyone should have access to a safe home in a vibrant community, that is secure and affordable to our residents,” explained Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development.
“We are confident that this new strategy will help our residents move into the homes they need, and it will react to a number of challenges, including increasing the number of affordable and social homes, helping people to get a foot on the property ladder, and to make sure housing is a key part of the city’s zero carbon journey.”
The housing strategy has been updated in a bid to create “diverse, sustainable, and long-lasting communities” across Manchester / Credit: Manchester City Council
Manchester City Council’s leader Bev Craig also pointed to good-quality housing being “a fundamental need for everyone”.
She continued: “Our new housing strategy is about making sure that Manchester works for everyone [and] it means building the homes our residents need, adapting to tackle climate change head on, and making the city affordable to anyone who wants to live here.
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“Manchester has always been a place of opportunity and ambition.
“Our approach to housing must meet that potential and deliver the homes that work for Manchester people.”
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
News
There’s a farm in Greater Manchester where you can meet Lilo and Stitch
Thomas Melia
Any fans of the Disney classic Lilo and Stitch are in luck because there’s a farm in Greater Manchester which is hosting a special meet and greet event.
Who doesn’t love a sci-fi comedy drama film, especially one where the lead character’s sidekick is none other than the adorable little blue experiment with a voice we still imitate to this day?
Originally released in 2002, the Lilo and Stitch film is receiving a live-action version in 2025 and we’re sure to fall in love with Lilo and her little blue fur ball pal over again, 23 years later.
Ahead of the new live adaptation, Cockfields Farm in Greater Manchester is hosting a meet and greet event dedicated to this huge Disney film.
This is the perfect opportunity for little ones and grown-ups alike to come and meet two of their favourite Disney characters while also getting a chance to venture around the farmland as well.
As the event is taking place at a farm, this means that the Lilo and Stitch experience won’t be the only event guests will be able to take part in; there’s also a handful of fun farm-based activities to try your hand at too.
There are tractor rides, a giant bouncy pillow and a carousel running all throughout the day for any kids looking to let off some steam.
And those after a quieter and less energetic itinerary can head on over to the cuddling corner, feed meerkats and handle some reptiles too, this farm is catering for all.
With the meet and greet experience occurring during May, meaning more chance of that gorgeous sunshine, anyone attending is also advised to come dressed in their ‘Hawaiian best’.
Lilo and Stitch are coming for a special meet and greet at Cockfields Farm in Ashton-under-Lyne on 17 and 18 May, with tickets already live HERE.
Local Olympian Keely Hodgkinson named as official starter of the 2025 Great Manchester Run
Danny Jones
One of our very own is getting ready to get thousands of racers underway as local Olympian, Keely Hodgkinson MBE, has been named as the official starter for the 2025 Great Manchester Run.
Atherton’s very own generational trackstar, who picked up gold at Paris 2024 and has earned several other medals, not to mention smashing multiple British records, will be leading the hordes of runners taking on the annual AJ Bell challenge through central Manchester next month.
We couldn’t think of anyone better suited to fly the flag for Greater Manchester.
HUGE NEWS incoming… 👀🔥
We’re super excited to announce that Olympic champion @keelyhodgkinson will be the official race starter for this year’s AJ Bell Great Manchester Run! 🏃♀️💥👏🐝 pic.twitter.com/aHHxeaMQ9p
Hyping up the news on social media, the Great Run company went on to add: “A true hometown hero, an Olympic champion, and now, kicking off Manchester’s best running party of the year – the BIGGEST in a decade! We’re proper BUZZZZZING! Let’s have it, Manchester!”
Safe to say they’re pretty ecstatic with the news, and so are we, as Keely Hodgkinson becomes the latest Team GB member to bring their pedigree to the event, following in the very fast footsteps of Sir Mo Farah, Kelly Holmes, Amir Khan and many more.
Although the 800m specialist is yet to comment on the announcement directly, the magic of getting to put the hard yards in front of a home crowd won’t be lost on her, and it goes without saying that she’ll get an unreal reception from the Manc spectators – of which there are expected to be more than 100,000.
Better yet, over 35,000 participants are set to take on the Great Manchester Run this year, therefore teeing potentially record-breaking crowds for the event.
2025 marks the 22nd edition of the event, and the atmosphere throughout the city centre, as well as out into East Manchester and Trafford, is always spectacular. There are still places left if you’re tempted…
Undoubtedly one of the very best athletes to ever come out of the underdog borough that is Wigan, whether you argue the case for old Lancashire or not, surely we can all be proud to call her a Greater Mancunian this spring, just as we did back in the summer?
Once again, it isn’t long before the annual race day kicks off as the Great Manchester Run arrives on Sunday, 18 May, with Keely Hodgkinson beckoning everyone towards their own hero moments.
There are still places left for both the 10k and half marathon distances, and now we’ve seen the medal design for this year, we might just have to sign up again ourselves.
You can find out more and decide for yourself HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
21st June 2022 
