Andy Burnham's council‑housing pledge meets falling England homebuilding rates

Andy Burnham, the Labour Party leader and former Greater Manchester mayor, has pledged to deliver 10,000 new council homes in Greater Manchester by 2028 and a total of 30,000 net‑zero social‑rented homes by 2038, part of a broader target of 75,000 homes for the city‑region. The plan also includes a Good Landlord Charter and a property‑check system aimed at raising rental standards.

Nationally, England’s housing output slipped 6% in 2024‑25 to 208,600 net additional dwellings, well below the rate needed to meet Labour’s pledge of 1.5 million new homes over the parliamentary term. The government has earmarked £39 billion to fund 300,000 social and affordable homes over ten years, but recent Energy Performance Certificate data show only about 204,000 new homes were completed in the 12 months to March, far short of the annual pace required.

Critics note that council housebuilding has collapsed since the 1980s, and that the sector faces structural constraints such as land availability, planning delays, high construction costs, labour shortages, and financing challenges. Burnham’s record as mayor shows some local building activity, yet the broader supply shortfall raises doubts about the feasibility of his ambitious council‑housing programme.