Latest news with #GMCA
Borneo Post
30-04-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Sarawak draws inspiration from UK's Greater Manchester housing model, says Dr Sim
Dr Sim (second right), his deputy ministers Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil (second left) and Datuk Michael Tiang (right), and the ministry's permanent secretary Datu Elizabeth Loh (left) talk to officials from GMCA. – Photo via Facebook/Dr Sim Kui Hian KUCHING (April 30): Sarawak can learn from Greater Manchester's approach to housing development, which is more applicable to the state's context than Singapore's, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian. He said the housing strategy implemented by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), comprising 10 local councils, places emphasis on green belts and lower-density developments, with fewer land constraints compared to Singapore. 'Truly inspired by GMCA's focus on innovation and inclusive growth. Definitely broadened our perspective and will help in Sarawak's nation building for housing strategy beyond the scope of 20,000 affordable houses proposed by Sarawak Economic Planning Unit under 13th Malaysia Plan (2026-2030),' he said in a Facebook post. The State Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government was leading a Sarawak delegation to Manchester to study the region's housing and urban renewal models. During a meeting with GMCA officials, the delegation discussed key topics such as housing supply, standards, investment from both the public and private sectors, as well as land use and construction industry capacity. 'Within 10 years, across 10 councils, GMCA had managed to plan 2 million office space, 3.5 million industrial space, 75,000 new homes and green belt with sustainability and low carbon (towards Net Zero). 'It coordinates the public transport, utilities and public infrastructure across 10 councils (as a Greater Manchester region),' he said.
Telegraph
16-03-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Andy Burnham defends £800m taxpayer loans for luxury skyscrapers
Andy Burnham has defended his administration's controversial decision to hand £800m of taxpayer cash to a skyscraper developer that has not built any affordable homes in the city. The Labour Greater Manchester Mayor said the loans to developer Renaker had helped deliver 'high-quality infrastructure that the city needs' and 'driven our growth'. Mr Burnham said he stood by the arrangement with Renaker, which is the subject of a High Court challenge by a rival. It comes amid scrutiny of the loans to Renaker, a property business owned by millionaire developer Daren Whitaker. Rival developer Weis Group, which has bought the High Court claim, last week wrote to Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the Treasury, to urge him to investigate the arrangement, citing 'serious concerns'. Renaker has been building luxury towers across Manchester with money borrowed from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), which Mr Burnham chairs. Nearly £600m has been lent by GMCA's Housing Investment Loans Fund and £200m has come from linked affiliates. Rival developers have claimed the significant support for Renaker is distorting the local market. It is thought the towers have also not produced any low-priced homes, despite Mr Burnham's pledge to tackle the city's housing crisis. Mr Burnham said the GMCA's housing fund was intended to 'bring regeneration' to Manchester, rather than deliver affordable homes. He told The Telegraph at the MIPIM property conference in Cannes: 'Renaker, in my view, should be commended for the commitment they've made to Manchester. The fund was created because London-based organisations wouldn't make a commitment to Manchester. 'In the 10 years since that fund was set up, Greater Manchester has been growing faster than the UK economy at 3pc a year. Housing growth through the fund has hugely driven that. '[Renaker is] building out high-quality infrastructure that the city needs, that has driven our growth. It should be celebrated as a success story, without an implication that there's something wrong.' Mr Burnham added that there had 'not been a single default' on loans made under the taxpayer fund. The Labour Mayor said the proceeds from the loans will help pay for housing initiatives, including a 'good landlord charter' aimed at raising standards in the city's private rental sector. He added that returns from loans had also paid for some social and affordable housing outside of the city centre. He said: 'You've got to balance it with the other things that we're doing as a city region.' The GMCA is contesting a High Court case lodged by rival developer Weis Group claiming that it has unfairly lent taxpayer cash to Renaker. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Renaker, and the authority says it has acted fairly. Lawyers for Weis Group wrote to Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the Treasury, this week to urge the department to investigate the fund and how its loans are being used, citing 'serious concerns'. The letter, dated March 11 and seen by The Telegraph, called for more scrutiny over financial viability assessments submitted by the developer in its planning applications and in its applications for loans from the fund. It also alleged a significant proportion of the flats Renaker has built are now owned by overseas investors and were 'marketed directly to foreign investors months ahead of anyone in the UK'. Telegraph analysis of Companies House filings last year suggested that hundreds of flats in two taxpayer-backed skyscrapers have been sold to Asian investors. A spokesman for the GMCA said: 'The lending criteria for the Fund are based on parameters set by central Government and we have not turned down a single viable scheme which met those criteria. 'In the past nine years, the Fund has helped unlock more than 11,000 new homes across the city-region, supporting a wide variety of developers and projects and helping to regenerate brownfield sites at no cost to the taxpayer.'
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The next step in Stockport's incredible transformation
Stockport council is set to support plans to expand the massive regeneration work taking place in the town centre. It could see a total of 8,000 new homes built over the next 15 years - double the previous target - with a 280-acre site in the eastern part of the town included in the plans. The council's cabinet team will discuss the expansion proposal during its next meeting on March 18, and is set to push for the work to move forward to a public consultation. READ MORE: Residents spotted men coming and going at a small shop, and then a huge conspiracy started to unravel READ MORE: Driver hits parked cars on 'race track road' and flips vehicle in dramatic crash This includes noting that a 'paper will be submitted to GMCA [Greater Manchester Combined Authority] to request that the mayor go out to consultation in April and May 2025 on the proposal to designate the east of the town centre as a Mayoral development area.' Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) was set up in 2019 to lead the £1bn transformation of the town, and since then has delivered major projects including the transport interchange, Viaduct Park, and 1,200 new homes completed or currently being built. Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham gave his backing for the expansion plans in October, saying the changes in Stockport were 'a plan for how to regenerate a proud English town." During a Stockport town hall meeting about the MDC expansion on March 6, councillors stressed the need for the expansion plans to bring benefits outside of the town centre boundary too. Coun David Meller, leader of Stockport Labour group, said he was supportive of the plans, but said they must make sure 'we don't have cliff edges on the border' with areas such as Lancashire Hill and Brinnington, which he said should also 'feel the benefit of the work.' Lib Dem Coun Jake Austin said he understands concerns around setting a firm boundary, but added that the 'highly targeted approach' to the town's regeneration has been a large part of its success. Paul Richards, the council's deputy chief executive and outgoing CEO of Stockport MDC, said: 'Whilst under the legislation it needs to be a firm red line, that doesn't stop us continuing to demonstrate the benefits of the work the MDC does to the areas that touch upon that red line and further across the borough.' Stockport MDC recently announced that it has appointed Catherine Chilvers as its new managing director. Ms Chilvers said she was 'thrilled to be joining the organisation at such an important moment for the town,' adding 'there's still so much more to come.'
BBC News
04-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Oldham Council 'not exiting housing scheme', hints Rayner
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has hinted that Oldham Council will not be pulling out of Greater Manchester's housing plan, even though it has submitted a request to do month the local authority voted to withdraw from the Places for Everyone (PfE) scheme after months of debate about building on green belt land and wrote to Rayner to request to be taken out of the PfE housing blueprint aims to build 170,000 homes - including 11,500 in Oldham - in all of Greater Manchester's 10 boroughs except said: "I want [Oldham Council] to work with us... working together is how we will achieve housing we need across Oldham and across the whole of Greater Manchester." In Oldham, the scheme drawn up by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) would see building on land in Beal Valley, Bottom Field Farm, Broadbent Moss, south of Coal Pit Lane, and south of Rosary PfE has sparked controversy, however, due to the inclusion of green belt land and councillors voted 31-29 to opt out of the scheme. Labour, which lost overall control of the authority in last year's local elections, maintained it would be a mistake to withdraw from PfE. 'Awaiting a response' "I want [Oldham Council] to work with us," Rayner told the BBC."I don't think that they'll be pulling out of that plan. "I know the local area. I think working together is how we will achieve housing that we need across Oldham and across the whole of Greater Manchester."Oldham Council said it was awaiting a response from BBC has asked the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government to confirm when a decision would be made about Oldham's request, but has not yet had a response. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Andy Burnham's office issues statement on plan to give homeless people 'no strings attached' free cash
Andy Burnham's office has responded to plans to give homeless people free cash over two years as part of an experiment. The Greater Manchester mayor has been urged to back the proposal which would see up to 200 people paid £1,600 a month with 'no strings attached'. The Basic Income pilot proposed by the UBI Lab Network would test the idea by focusing on homeless people first. Academics and campaigners from the group want to see the initiative rolled out universally so 'everyone gets it', arguing that an 'income floor' that nobody can fall below could end absolute poverty. READ MORE: Suspect named after girl, 3, killed in Manchester tram and van crash READ MORE: Major road shuts after 'serious accident' with pedestrian fighting for life It comes after Mr Burnham committed to bringing forward a 'Basic Income' pilot in his election manifesto last year. The Manchester Evening News understands that his office is looking at other proposals for the Basic Income pilot too. Among other ideas put forward is the Living Income which would set an 'income floor', including through means-tested benefits. Responding to the UBI Lab Network's proposal, a Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) spokesperson said: "It is very positive to see a lot of effort and thought looking into how a Universal Basic Income, or a similar approach, could work and benefit residents across Greater Manchester. "We are committed to doing all that we can for those at the sharpest end of health, social and economic inequality and we know that too many are still struggling with the cost of living. "Through our transformative 'GM Live Well' agenda we want to make sure the right support is available for all through a prevention-first approach, and a Universal Basic Income would go a long way in increasing economic security and reducing financial stress for many of our residents. "As part of our Live Well plans, we would welcome working with the Government to pilot truly progressive ways to at addressing poverty and helping the most vulnerable in our society." In his election manifesto, the Labour mayor said that Greater Manchester would not be able to bring forward a Basic Income pilot alone, but committed to making the case to the government for the city-region to host one. Under UBI Lab Network's plans for the pilot, up to 200 people would get £1,600 a month - £38,400 over the two-year period - costing £7.68m in total. The group says the costs to run a pilot could be raised through a combination of central government support, public donations, support from philanthropic organisations and funding from the GMCA itself.
