HBF urges next Greater Manchester Mayor to prioritise housing delivery

By Danny BallPublished On: July 28th, 2026Categories: News, Top Stories

The Home Builders Federation (HBF) has called on the next Mayor of Greater Manchester to accelerate housebuilding through planning reform, increased support for first-time buyers and greater investment in construction skills.

In a new manifesto published ahead of the mayoral transition, the organisation says Greater Manchester has an opportunity to become a national model for housing delivery by making full use of its devolved planning and economic powers.

The publication follows Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s commitment to strengthen Greater Manchester’s role in national decision-making through the creation of a “Number 10 North”, with HBF arguing the city region is well placed to demonstrate how devolved leadership can help tackle the UK’s housing shortage.

Housing delivery could generate billions for the regional economy

According to HBF, meeting Greater Manchester’s annual Standard Method housing target of 14,400 homes would deliver significant economic benefits each year.

The federation estimates the target would support around 50,000 jobs, generate £3.2 billion in economic activity, unlock £650 million of affordable housing investment and create £90 million of investment in new infrastructure, including £40 million for schools. It also predicts more than £400 million of additional spending in local businesses.

While Greater Manchester has outperformed national housing trends in recent years, completing an average of 10,650 homes annually over the past five years, HBF says further action will be needed to reach future delivery targets.

Nationally, housing delivery fell by 6% during 2024/25, while Greater Manchester recorded a 1.3% increase over the same period.

Planning, affordability and skills remain key barriers

The manifesto identifies several factors continuing to constrain housing delivery, including planning delays, development viability pressures, limited support for first-time buyers, challenges around affordable housing delivery and capacity pressures within local planning authorities.

HBF is calling for the incoming Mayor to prioritise preparation of a new Spatial Development Strategy to provide long-term certainty for developers, while allocating more smaller development sites suitable for SME housebuilders and continuing to prioritise brownfield regeneration in sustainable locations.

The federation also wants stronger collaboration between local government, Homes England, lenders and industry to improve access to home ownership, alongside measures to address construction skills shortages through closer links between colleges and employers.

Industry calls for practical interventions

Neil Jefferson, Chief Executive of the Home Builders Federation, said: “There is a real opportunity for the next Mayor of Greater Manchester to accelerate housing delivery and show how strong devolved leadership can help tackle the housing crisis.

“With greater powers over planning, transport and skills, the incoming Mayor can create the conditions that allow more homes to be built in the right places, support local jobs and investment, and make home ownership more achievable for thousands of people across the region.

“Our manifesto sets out practical, deliverable interventions that would help Greater Manchester meet its housing ambitions and provide a blueprint for other Combined Authorities across the country.”

Jefferson added that wider national policy changes would also be needed to support delivery.

“Increased taxes and policy costs, alongside suppressed demand due to a lack of affordable mortgage lending and no Government support for buyers, are preventing builders from increasing housing supply and putting the Government’s housing ambitions increasingly out of reach.”

Devolution seen as opportunity to increase housing supply

The manifesto positions Greater Manchester as one of England’s best-placed combined authorities to demonstrate how strategic planning, investment and devolved decision-making can increase housing supply while supporting economic growth.

HBF argues that combining local planning reforms with measures to improve affordability and expand the construction workforce would help the region build on its recent housing delivery performance and move closer to meeting its annual target of 14,400 new homes.