![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_JRP_MEN_030925_city2025_023JPG.jpg\")
New development keeps coming up in Manchester, but there’s going to be a big shake-up of the rules developers follow(Image: Jason Roberts \/Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\nIt’s been a long time comingNew development keeps coming up in Manchester, but there’s going to be a big shake-up of the rules developers follow(Image: Jason Roberts \/Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\n
Manchester council has unveiled its first city-wide development blueprint in more than a decade \u2014 and it could lead to a surge in new affordable homes.<\/p>\n
Under Manchester council\u2019s new draft local plan, developers will be required to make 30pc of all homes in a new housing project affordable, up from 20pc.<\/p>\n
The draft local plan, required by law and last updated in 2012, also proposes expanding the city centre boundary, reviewing future demand for hotels, and examining if Manchester needs stronger architectural design standards.<\/p>\n
Never miss a story with the MEN’s daily Catch Up newsletter – get it in your inbox by signing up here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n While the plan promises sweeping changes to development rules, Manchester council said the overall target for building homes \u2014 3,533 annually \u2014 will be unchanged, a figure set by Andy Burnham<\/a>\u2019s Greater Manchester Places for Everyone document approved last year.<\/p>\n \u201cThe local plan helps guide appropriate development in the city to make sure that it supports Manchester\u2019s growth and provides a blueprint for development going through the planning process,\u201d said executive councillor for development, Gavin White, on Wednesday (September 3).<\/p>\n \u201cIn order to meet our housing ambitions, we are consulting on increasing the percentage of affordable housing required, to bring it in line with our existing housing strategy.\u201d<\/p>\n Campaigners have long called for more affordable housing to come to the city. Dr Sophie King argues the local plan should ensure 30pc of all homes built in the city available for social rent.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need a much higher specific target on social rent. 30pc social rent is evidence based, that\u2019s what\u2019s needed to address the housing crisis,\u201d she said in June.<\/p>\n While the finished draft does not call for 30pc social rent, it does mandate that all developments of 10 or more homes should make 30pc affordable \u2014 and 70pc of the affordable quota should be available for social rent.<\/p>\n In a 100-home project, developers would need to make at least 21 units available for social rent, another nine available via another affordable housing mechanism, such as rent-to-buy, and the remaining 70 on the open market.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_Gavin-White.jpg\")
Councillor Gavin White (Image: Manchester City Council)<\/p>\n