Council reveals plan for more affordable homes

MANCHESTER council has unveiled its first citywide development blueprint in more than a decade - and it could lead to a surge in new affordable homes.

- By ETHAN DAVIES Local Democracy Reporting Service

Under the town hall's new draft local plan, developers will be required to make 30 per cent of all homes in a new housing project affordable, up from 20pc.

The draft local plan, required by law and last updated in 2012, also proposes expanding the city centre boundary, reviewing future demand for hotels, and examining if Manchester needs stronger architectural design standards While the plan promises sweeping changes to development rules, Manchester council said the overall target for building homes - 3,533 annually - will be unchanged, a figure set by Andy Burnham's Greater Manchester Places for Everyone document approved last year.