AGMA selected as Housing Growth Point

The Minister for Housing and Planning, Caroline Flint, today announced that Greater Manchester has been selected as a Housing Growth Point.

This follows a submission made to Government in October 2007, by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA).

The Growth Points were originally limited to the Midlands and South, but the second round was open to local authorities throughout England, as one of a number of measures the Government proposed to help deliver increased levels of housing provision and tackle rising problems of affordability.

The AGMA proposal is intended to deliver an appropriate mix of additional housing across Greater Manchester - initially focused on the Cities of Manchester and Salford and the Boroughs of Bolton and Trafford. This will be through public funding to tackle a range of different development constraints that will assist homebuilders to provide the types and numbers of homes that Greater Manchester requires. The timescale for the Growth Point is expected to extend to March 2017, and particularly in the current housing market, will involve Councils working closely with a full range of partners from both the public and private sector to stimulate and co-ordinate delivery.

The Growth Points announcement is part of a wider package of measures announced by the Minister today setting out the government's next steps in delivering challenging national housing targets.

Cllr Peter Smith, Chair of AGMA welcomed the Growth Point announcement, saying' "this forms part of a coherent and ambitious approach to sustainable development within Greater Manchester, which is being progressed by the 10 local authorities in partnership. It aligns with and complements other strategies and initiatives to support continued economic growth and regeneration."

The next step, following this announcement, is for AGMA to prepare a detailed Programme of Development for submission to DCLG, setting out the timescales and more specific interventions needed to unlock sites and to help developers provide these levels of housing provision.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Claire Keegan or Fiona Smith at Manchester City Council Press Office, tel 0161 234 4014.