Growth through housebuilding: Northern property industry reacts to Spring Statement

Greater Manchester’s response to the ‘A Railway Fit for Britain’s Future’ national consultation, which closes on 15 April, will outline asks including setting local fares, developing underused land around stations and a statutory role in major decisions.

The Office for Budget Responsibility said Labour’s planning reforms could provide a £15.1bn boost to the economy over the next 10 years and deliver 1.3m homes by the end of the parliament, according to Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

Following commitments of £500m in October and £350m in February, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said an additional £2bn slug would enable a further 18,000 homes across the country.

Cllr Mark Hunter will relinquish the position he has held for the last three years in May.

Set to guide development in the borough up to 2040, the document has now been lodged with the Secretary of State for examination.

Positive steps taken towards reinvigorating housebuilding by the government nine months into its term are not to be sniffed at – but does the ambition match the reality on the ground? Place North’s MIPIM breakfast conference focused on this topic with a panel of private and public sector experts.

How can the private sector contribute to devolution shaping the future of the North? As the government launched its Planning & Infrastructure Bill, long-term planning, trust, and collaboration were highlighted by speakers from the North East, Greater Manchester, and Liverpool.

Reducing the size and workload of planning committees and strengthening development corporations are among the key features of Labour’s proposed reforms.

Like many local authorities across the country, Bury Council is on a mission to breathe new life into its town centres. Chief executive Lynne Ridsdale spoke to Place North West about how her organisation is funding that vision.

At this year’s MIPIM, I expect to hear a great many conversations around the need for greater collaboration, new towns, planning issues and the move from Green Belt to Grey Belt, and most particularly, the inexorable rise of the North, writes Thomas Pearson of JMW.

The former Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson has been charged with bribery and misconduct in a public office as part of a Merseyside Police investigation.

What will happen if planning can no longer be blamed for the lack of viability in housing schemes? Plus: Greater Manchester’s game of Cluedo and office-to-resi pivots

The High Speed Rail Group has made a submission to the Treasury spending review consultation, seeking to “unfreeze” the HS2 leg between Birmingham and Crewe.

The deputy prime minister’s 40-minute speech at the Convention of the North outlined how devolution will drive growth and development and usher in a “new era of Northern cooperation”.

At an extraordinary council session, members last night narrowly voted to pull out of the Greater Manchester spatial framework, reaffirming the weight of opinion from its November council meeting.

More than 3,000 homes could be delivered as a result of a £300m boost to the Affordable Homes Programme and £50m for the Local Authority Housing Fund.

Mark Wynn originally joined the county council in April 2023 as director of resources before taking on the chief executive role in an interim capacity last August.

Simon Case, the former cabinet secretary and head of the civil service, will chair the delivery board of the regeneration vehicle set up by government, BAE Systems and Westmorland & Furness Council.

The areas were among six selected by deputy prime minister Angela Rayner to be part of Labour’s fast-track devolution programme.