With Andy Burnham now widely seen as the frontrunner to be the next Labour leader, pledging to reshape the party around a mission to “lift up its people and places over the next decade”, his views on housing have rarely been more relevant.
Shortly before signalling his leadership intentions, the Mayor of Greater Manchester sat down with Voicescape’s Gary Haynes on the Social Housing Podcast to discuss a wide range of issues, including the £39 billion social housing settlement, reforming Homes England, tackling rogue landlords, and Greater Manchester’s ambition to build more social homes than it loses to Right to Buy by 2027.
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His insights on what needs to change in housing policy are particularly timely, given how prominently this agenda is expected to feature in his leadership campaign and any future bid to lead the country.
Key highlights in the discussion included:
His views on the scale of housing policy progress and his ambition for funding: “I think arguably there’s been more progress on housing policy in those five years than probably in the 20 or 30 years before it. When you think of the Renters’ Rights Act as it is now, obviously major legislation on renting, as well as a different approach being taken nationally on social housing and the funding that was secured by Angela Rayner before she left government, the £39 billion, that is a significant investment over a decade. We continue to argue for the maximum to be devoted to social housing. I would actually devote all of it to social housing.”
His philosophy of housing and what needs to change: “I still strongly believe in Housing First as the national philosophy. We really haven’t had that approach in this country since the post-war years, when decent housing was understood to be the nation’s top priority. Since the 1980s, housing has increasingly been treated as a commodity to be bought and sold. If you see housing purely like that, you end up with a housing crisis – and that’s exactly where we are.”
And insights into what might change in the sector under his leadership:“I do think we need significant reform of Homes England. There is still too much scheme-by-scheme micromanagement. They need to become more of an investor with us: back the city region, let us get on with delivery, and then hold us accountable for cumulative outputs across Greater Manchester rather than every individual project.”
Gary Haynes, Managing Director at Voicescape, Manchester-based provider of AI-led analytics and engagement solutions for social housing and local authorities, who hosted the podcast, said:
“Speaking with Andy shortly before his announcement that he would seek to rejoin Parliament and run for the Labour leadership was fascinating. He has consistently set himself apart through his vocal commitment to expanding social housing, stronger investment and reform that gives local areas more freedom to deliver. The podcast explores his thinking in depth – from a ‘Housing First’ philosophy to how funding and accountability in the sector could evolve. At a time when housing organisations and local authorities are expected to do more with fewer resources, these ideas feel especially relevant as the sector looks for smarter, more effective ways to deliver for communities.”
Listen to the full episode of the Social Housing Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzzJvbyT_B0
