Burnham’s ‘housing trap’: Why Manchesterism may not travel
Summary
The article examines how Andy Burnham’s housing approach, shaped by his record in Greater Manchester, may not translate well nationally. It argues that while planning reform, council housebuilding and devolved delivery could support supply, SME housebuilders are already under pressure from weak market conditions, viability constraints and planning delays.
Why it matters
Residential property surveyors are affected by shifts in planning capacity, viability, public-sector delivery and development economics, all of which influence project pipelines and site appraisal. The piece also highlights potential policy changes around SDLT, S106 and CIL that could affect scheme viability and market activity.
Key points
- HBF/Quantum survey reports a sharp fall in SME developer confidence.
- Planning delays and viability are the main barriers to delivery.
- Burnham’s model relies heavily on council housebuilding and devolved local delivery.
- The article questions whether additional planning resource would benefit SME schemes or be absorbed by public housing priorities.
- Possible tax and demand-side reforms, including SDLT changes, are presented as potential market supports.
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