Manchester is taking another big step toward making the city more affordable for everyone. The City Council has just approved a new joint venture with the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF), a partnership designed to help build more low-cost homes across the city.
At the heart of this effort is This City—the Council’s own house building programme, created to make better use of brownfield land owned by the city. The aim? To build well-designed, sustainable homes that local people can actually afford. Their first major development, No.1 Ancoats Green, is almost complete and already sets a promising tone. Sitting alongside a new park, the project will offer 129 low-carbon homes, with nearly a third available at the Manchester Living Rent—a level carefully set so that people relying on housing benefit aren’t priced out.
Now, with GMPF officially on board, the second phase of This City is ready to get underway. The Pension Fund was selected through a competitive process as the investment partner for this next chapter—and it’s a partnership that brings not just funding, but shared values around sustainable growth and long-term benefit for communities.
This next phase has big ambitions: a pipeline of 1,583 new homes to be built on council-owned brownfield sites throughout Manchester. At least 20% of those homes will be let at affordable rent levels, helping to ease the city’s housing pressures.
The first of these new sites—on Postal Street in the Northern Quarter—is already in motion, with a planning application expected in the coming weeks. The proposal includes 126 new homes, once again with 20% offered at the Manchester Living Rent.
Commenting on the partnership, Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said the deal gives them “the financial boost to go further and build much-needed low-cost, low-carbon homes for Manchester residents.” She also underlined how these homes will support the city’s wider housing goal: delivering at least 36,000 new homes by 2032, including at least 10,000 that are social, council, or genuinely affordable.
Councillor Eleanor Wills, Chair of GMPF, echoed the urgency of the moment. “We are acutely aware of the severe housing crisis both nationally and here in the North West,” she said. “This is why we’re proud to continue investing in This City—a vehicle that not only supports families in need of affordable homes but also secures reliable, long-term returns for our members’ pensions.”
At its core, this partnership shows how public values and long-term investment can work hand in hand to build not just homes, but real opportunities for people across Manchester.
New builds are on the rise across the UK. More and more people are turning to high-quality, energy-efficient homes as a long-term investment—both for their future and their family’s well-being. If you’ve been thinking about starting a similar journey, now might be the perfect moment to take the first step.
At Homz, we make the planning process simpler, clearer, and less stressful—so you can focus on what matters most: building a home that works for you. Whether you’re exploring affordable housing, thinking about a new build, or simply want to understand your options, we’re here to guide you. Reach out to us today!
References:
1.) https://www.theplanner.co.uk/2025/06/05/partnership-aims-deliver-affordable-housing-across-manchester
