New homes plan

CHEAP HOUSES TO BE BUILT ACROSS AREA

AROUND 2,500 cheap homes are going to be built in Wythenshawe, Clayton, Beswick and north Manchester - on top of the thousands already planned across Manchester.

The houses will be built in the four areas in the next five years - with £2m set aside to get the ball rolling.

That will be on top of the 1,000 to 2,000 affordable homes the council has promised to build every YEAR to meet housing demand in the city.

The extra homes will be subsidised using cash put in by developers for cheap homes as part of other housing projects and various grants.

They will be for people on or below the city’s average household income. Rent or mortgage payments will be no more than a third of monthly income.

Homes will be available on social and affordable rent - and on shared ownership, shared equity and rent to purchase plans.

Council bosses say that in Wythenshawe, Clayton, Beswick and north Manchester - where they own land they can build new homes quickly.

The initial £2m will only see 135 homes built. Significant public sector subsidy will also be needed.

There was growing anger among council backbenchers last year over the boom in upmarket city centre apartments, none of which have included any cheaper homes. In January, town hall chiefs pledged to build 1,000 to 2,000 affordable homes every year until 2021 - half to rent and half to buy.

Deputy town hall chief Bernard Priest said: “Manchester is a soughtafter place to live and meeting the demand for all types of housing is essential.”