The new Labour government has introduced significant policies on energy, transport, and public finances since taking office in July. Among the most notable changes is a major overhaul of the planning system announced by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner on July 30. Rayner, who is also the housing minister, reinstated mandatory local housing targets, which were previously advisory. This shift requires councils to meet specific annual housing quotas set by Whitehall.
Greater Manchester has already seen significant development in areas like Manchester city centre over the past decade. These new targets are generally higher than those in the region's current development plan, Places For Everyone (PfE). PfE outlines where homes should be built within each borough and emphasises a "brownfield-first" approach, prioritising the redevelopment of former industrial or commercial sites over green belt land.
The reforms have introduced a clear new objective: Greater Manchester must build 17,705 more homes by 2029 than originally planned. While PfE and Stockport’s local plan aimed to deliver 11,402 homes annually between 2025 and 2030, The government’s new targets raise this figure to 14,943 by the next General Election.
With an additional 3,541 homes now required each year, the focus shifts to how this aligns with Greater Manchester's existing plans under PfE. Each borough has its only plans and specific targets.
Bolton’s targeted to build 1,340 houses per year, which was increased from 787 houses annually when the original Places for Everyone target was set. The town centre will see with biggest regeneration, with 5000 additional homes. In Rivington Chase, it’s looking to produce 1,700 new homes and an additional 100 homes in Farnworth Green.
Bury is expected to build 1,054 houses annually until 2030, which increased from the original target of 452. Several large-scale housing developments have been mapped out already, including Elton Reservoir, which is set to see 3,500 homes and community facilities built.
Additionally, 140 homes set for Seedfield and 250 homes are set for Walshaw. Two sites shared with Rochdale called the ‘Northern Gateway’ should see 2,550 built across the two boroughs. Alongside these housing plans, Bury will also see new tram stops in the redevelopment over the next few years.
The new target for Manchester has actually dropped, from 3,533 to 2,686. Both figures mean that development will continue in the city, and it's not thought the new target means Manchester will scale back its housebuilding ambitions. Plans include four new high-rise skyscrapers in Deansgate square and further developments to expand across Ancoats, Holt town and more. ID Manchester, a world-class innovation district near the Universities, is set to build 1,500 new homes, with Strangeways regeneration nearby having plans written up for regeneration too. Victoria North is the biggest urban regeneration project with a longer life-span than the current targets, its projected to create 15,000 new homes over the next 20 years.
The national targets set for Oldham has said the borough needs to build 1,049 houses a year to align with the governments plans, this was an increase from the original target set by PfE of 680.
The borough has a few sites lined up to deliver housing, though, suggesting it may be well-placed to handle the increase. They include 1,450 allocated to Broadbent Moss, some 480 at Beal Valley, just 30 on Bottom Field Farm in Woodhouses, 138 in Chew Brook Vale, another 460 in Cowlishaw, Coat Pit Lane will see 175, 60 at Rosary Road and a shared site with Rochdale called Stakehill earmarked for 1,680.
Similarly to Oldham, Rochdale have been set a target of 1,031 houses a year, up from 616. Their biggest development plans are for the Northern Gateway, which is shared with Bury, that promises 2,550, closely followed by Stakehill shared spot with 1,680. It has seven more locations in its own boundaries, too. They include Bamford in Norden promising room for 450 new houses, with 125 homes targeted for Castleton Sidings, and another 250 at Crimble Mill.
Salford is similar to Manchester in that it’s a big builder for Greater Manchester and has been targeted accordingly. PfE says Salford should build 1,658 homes annually up to 2030, Angela Rayner and the Labour government shifted this target to 1,475 every year until 2029. Salford only has two major sites listed for development, though. Hazelhurst Farm, promising 400 homes, and land just east of Boothstown — next to RHS Garden Bridgewater — set for 300. Salford City Council unveiled their plans for the next phase of development for Salford Cresent, which will comprise of 933 new homes in the area.
While Stockport isn’t involved in the Places for Everyone scheme, it set its own internal targets of 1,097 homes every year just two weeks before the government announced their plans. It now has to construct 1,906. While nothing has been formally announced in terms of building plans, Stockport has seen a increase in development of its town centre, with a new neighbourhood called Stockport 8 creating 1,000 new homes. Town Centre East was recently revealed as the next step in the town's transformation, planning to create 4000 new homes.
Tameside saw one of the biggest target increases, from 485 to 1223 houses annually. One of its two sites specifically earmarked for housing development is Godley Green, which is one of the biggest in the city-region at 2,350 homes. The other is just south of Hyde, which should see 440 built. Ashton Moss Mayoral Development Zone was recently revealed in the mayor’s plans, with 1500 new homes in the pipeline.
Trafford is another big builder — taking on 1,122 homes every year under PfE, that’s jumped to 1,607. The two biggest plans for Trafford include the New Carrington masterplan, which proposes a new town with 5,000 new homes, as well as Timperley Wedge which envisions 2,500 new homes. Trafford recently announced the plans have gone through for a development in Trafford Waters, which will see 208 new homes built.
Wigan’s target was 972 home completions every year until 2030. It’s now targeted for 1,572 annually until 2029. Locations include Mosley Common, earmarked for 1,100 houses, with another 600 set for Pocket Nook, on the border with Warrington. Eckersley Mills is also under review for development, with plans to also include the transformation of the Grade II* listed Wigan mill complex into a multi-use new residential neighbourhood. In 2021, it was revealed that a redevelopment in the Galleries district within Wigan town centre was the starting point for the transformative housing plans alongside the retail and leisure plans. This will see 464 new residential spaces created.
Greater Manchester have had housing as a top priority since the beginning of the development of the Places for Everyone project in 2014, and has a head start on many other areas across the country when it comes to housing targets outlined by the government. The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham outlined this as a key priority for the city-region and has began to put plans in places to meet these targets, with the potential to deliver even more than projected. Landmark updates from key regeneration programmes across the city-region tell a story of continuing investor confidence and long-term ambition that will transform communities and usher in the next chapter of development in Greater Manchester through new housing, neighbourhood renewal and sustainable economic growth.