Manchester hits 30-year high for new social and affordable homes
Manchester has reached its highest level of social and affordable housing delivery since the mid-1990s. In the 2025/26 financial year, the city saw 901 affordable homes completed, representing nearly a fifth of all new residential units built during that period. This milestone marks the fourth year of the city’s 10-year housing strategy, which aims to fundamentally shift the local property market toward accessibility for long-term residents.
Of the 4,766 new homes completed across Manchester in the last twelve months, the 901 affordable units include 439 specifically designated for social rent. These figures indicate a significant acceleration in the council’s ability to convert planning permissions into occupied dwellings, particularly in areas previously dominated by high-end private developments.
Social and affordable housing delivery reaches 30-year peak
The current volume of completions reflects a deliberate pivot toward social rent, which offers the highest level of security and affordability for low-income households. The data suggests that while the overall housing market remains active, the proportion of non-market housing is growing at its fastest rate in three decades.
| Category | 2025/26 Completions |
|---|---|
| Total New Homes Completed | 4,766 |
| Total Affordable Homes | 901 |
| Specific Social Rent Units | 439 |
| Affordable Homes in Pipeline | 3,450 |
These completions are distributed across various neighborhoods, moving away from a concentration solely in the city centre to include outer wards where demand for family housing is acute. The delivery of these units coincides with renters’ legal protections, which were introduced to stabilize the private sector alongside the increase in public housing stock.
Tracking progress against the 10-year housing strategy
Launched in 2022, the Manchester Affordable Housing Strategy set an ambitious target to deliver 36,000 homes across all tenures by 2032. A core pillar of this plan is the creation of at least 10,000 social, council, or genuinely affordable homes, with 3,000 of those located within the city centre.
To date, 2,430 affordable homes have been completed under this strategy. The council maintains that the momentum is sufficient to meet or exceed the original 10,000-unit target. This confidence stems from the use of council-owned land to bypass some of the traditional barriers faced by private developers, ensuring that social rent remains a priority even when market conditions fluctuate.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Bev Craig, noted that finding affordable housing remains a primary concern for residents. The strategy is designed to provide real choice by investing in vibrant neighborhoods rather than just high-density blocks. The focus remains on “turning the tide” by delivering record numbers of council-owned and social units.
Major residential projects entering the construction pipeline
The outlook for the 2026/27 period suggests another high-output year. There are currently 1,450 affordable homes actively under construction on-site, with an additional 2,000 units having secured planning permission and being readied for ground-breaking.
Several large-scale developments are expected to define the next phase of delivery:
* Wythenshawe Town Centre: 400 new homes dedicated to social rent.
* Brewery Gardens (former Boddington’s site): 303 affordable homes in a prominent city centre location.
* Charlestown: 271 new units split between social rent and shared ownership models.
* Moss Side: 212 affordable homes intended to support local housing demand.
Cllr Gavin White, Executive Member for Housing and Development, emphasized that the city is not waiting for external market forces to solve the housing shortage. By working with housing providers and utilizing the city’s own land assets, the council aims to ensure that the “right homes are built in the right places.” The focus on social rent and council housing is a direct response to the rising cost of living and the need for long-term residential stability in Manchester.
Source: Manchester City Council
