Homes England and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) have entered into a Strategic Place Partnership, piloting a new model for partnership working between the government’s housing and regeneration agency and local authorities
The Strategic Place Partnership is tailored to the individual circumstances, aspirations and needs of each place, and working with local leaders to unlock barriers.
In line with the commitments set out in the government’s Levelling Up White Paper, Homes England is adopting a place-first approach to transformational regeneration, prioritising regions with a strong pipeline of potential opportunities to deliver ambitious proposals for housing growth.
In Greater Manchester, the pilot programme will focus on delivering affordable housing and town centre regeneration
Through the pilot, partners have set out how they will cooperate on their pipeline of homes and regeneration projects to achieve this, working with both private and public sector partners across Greater Manchester.
Peter Denton, Chief Executive of Homes England, said: “Greater Manchester is a mature, well-established partner, with huge ambition and the ability to deliver. Together, we can pool our resources to support place-based growth and regeneration, including the supply of well-designed new homes.”
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “Right now we have to be creating homes and infrastructure that are fit for a better future, and our ambition is to deliver 30,000 good quality, truly affordable net zero carbon homes by 2038. This means unlocking brownfield land for regeneration, and ensuring that development supports sustainable growth throughout the city-region. Working alongside the GMCA and local council teams, Homes England has a vital role to play in this collective effort.”
Homes England is also testing the pilot programme with the Association of South Essex Local Authorities (ASELA)
With ASELA, the Partnership aims to embed outstanding place making principles in every project so local communities can thrive and see a step change in employment and skills, life chances and health and wellbeing.
Cllr Chris Hossack, chair of the Association of South Essex Local Authorities (ASELA) and leader of Brentwood Borough Council, said: “It will support our vision for south Essex as a place where communities can thrive and where new homes come hand in hand with new jobs and regeneration of our town centres and high streets.”
