Council and Housing Partnerships in Manchester
Council and housing association partnerships in Manchester are the arrangements through which a developer delivers new affordable homes for public and social landlords. Land to Homes offers package deals, land-led schemes, affordable homes secured through planning and design and build contracts for registered providers, and can bid for council land disposals where the terms suit. Each route is agreed in writing before work starts.
Manchester · M1Talk to us about a partnership
Tell us about your organisation and the homes you need.
Prefer to talk? Call 0800 088 6248.
- Private conversationsEvery arrangement documented
- Land to homesLand, planning and construction
- Housing partnersCouncils and housing associations
- No public offerNothing here is an offer to invest
- UK-wideEngland, Wales, Scotland and NI
Homes we plan around Manchester
Manchester (M1) anchors our coverage of Greater Manchester, which takes in 38 other places. Nearby, we also cover Salford, Old Trafford and Failsworth, all within 3 miles. Within England, Manchester falls in the North West region.
When you register for Manchester, you can choose homes for shared ownership, accessible and adaptable homes or two- and three-bedroom family homes. As Manchester is in England, applications are judged against the National Planning Policy Framework, and the buyer of land pays Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).
Tell us what you need in Manchester and we will be in touch if homes are released nearby.
What you get in Manchester
Land-led schemes
We bring forward land for a scheme the provider will own, which can be fully affordable where planning policy and funding allow.
Clear agreements
Every partnership is set out in a written agreement covering the programme, specification, payment stages and handover.
Design and build
We design and build homes on land owned by a council or provider, to its specification and within its procurement rules.
Standards agreed up front
Provider design standards, space standards and energy targets are agreed at the start, so the homes are ready to transfer on completion.
Planning in Manchester: the English rules
In England, affordable housing on market developments in Manchester is normally secured through a Section 106 agreement, which sets the number, tenure and transfer of homes to a registered provider. Grant from Homes England can add further homes, and the 2026 to 2036 programme expects at least 60% of funded homes to be Social Rent. Land to Homes can supply land, design and build homes, or deliver completed homes for councils and housing associations.
In England, registered providers, including housing associations and for-profit providers, are regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing. Affordable homes are usually secured through Section 106 agreements, and grant is channelled through Homes England, or the Greater London Authority in London. Councils follow procurement rules and their legal duties on value when disposing of land or appointing partners.
| National planning policy | National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), revised August 2026, with national planning practice guidance |
|---|---|
| Local planning document | Local Plan |
| Who decides applications | The local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority) |
| Land registration | HM Land Registry |
Your questions answered for Manchester
What is a land-led scheme?
A land-led scheme is one where land is secured and a scheme is planned around a provider's needs, rather than the provider buying a share of homes within a market-led development. It can allow a higher proportion of affordable homes, or a fully affordable scheme, where planning policy and funding support it.
Can you help a community land trust or community-led group?
Potentially, yes. Community-led schemes often need land, planning and construction support, which is what we provide. The right structure depends on the group, the land and any funding available. We can discuss land options, a design and build arrangement or homes delivered within a wider scheme, with each party taking its own legal advice.
Who applies for grant funding for affordable homes?
Usually the housing association or council, because public grant for affordable housing is normally paid to them under programmes run by Homes England, the Greater London Authority, the Welsh Government, the Scottish Government or, in Northern Ireland, the Housing Executive's Social Housing Development Programme. We plan schemes with the relevant funding conditions in mind.
Do you talk to for-profit registered providers?
Yes. In England, both not-for-profit housing associations and for-profit registered providers can own affordable homes, and both are regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing. We discuss affordable homes with any appropriately registered provider, subject to the council's requirements on who can take on the homes.
Can I register for new homes in Manchester?
Yes. Registering for Manchester is free and does not commit you to anything. There are no homes available yet; if we bring homes forward in or near Manchester, we will contact you.
Read more: Council and Housing Association Partnerships · Guide: How affordable and social homes are delivered across the UK