Can Andy Burnham Address the UK's Housing Crisis?

The Housing Crisis in the UK

In the UK, millions of individuals are grappling with unaffordable rents and extended waits for social housing, while many are priced out when trying to buy a home. Last year, the average house price in England hit £300,000 - an astonishing figure that is almost eight times the average income. Despite Labour's ambitious pledge to construct 1.5 million new homes by 2025, current building rates lag significantly behind targets, with only 204,000 homes completed in the latest year.

Burnham's Vision for Housing

As Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham has acknowledged the severe housing crisis facing the nation. He has expressed a desire to initiate what he calls "the biggest council house building programme since the post-war period," although he has yet to clarify the specifics of this plan. Under Keir Starmer's leadership, the Labour government has already earmarked £39 billion to fund the construction of 300,000 new social and affordable homes over a decade, aiming for approximately 30,000 new homes annually. This represents a vital step but remains far from the urgency of the current situation.

Challenges Faced by Burnham

Historically, council house construction has dwindled significantly since the 1980s, with many local authority homes sold off under the right-to-buy legislation implemented by Margaret Thatcher. From building nearly 200,000 homes a year in the 1950s, only 1,970 new council houses were constructed in 2025. Burnham's ambitions would require councils to ramp up building rates drastically, despite some councils having not initiated new builds for decades. An increase in budgets will be necessary for councils to rebuild the teams required for large-scale housing projects.

Current Construction Landscape

Labour has framed its strategy around bolstering both private and social housing construction, underscoring their need to achieve 300,000 new homes annually—a rate not seen in decades. Government data reveals that only 204,000 new homes were delivered in the year to March, majorly falling short of Labour’s target with the general election looming closer.

Burnham's Record in Greater Manchester

During his tenure in Manchester, Burnham's record on housing has produced mixed results. The city built an average of 3.8 homes per 1,000 people between 2018 and 2025, below the figures seen in regions such as Cambridgeshire and Greater London. However, Manchester itself experienced a higher rate of 5.3 homes per 1,000 people, revealing more successful initiatives compared to surrounding areas. Nonetheless, the overall number of council homes decreased slightly from 61,000 to 59,000, with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority stating that national policies—particularly the right-to-buy—have significantly hindered progress.

Path Forward for Burnham

Analysts indicate that the Starmer government’s planned reforms to the planning system could ease construction burdens long-term. Yet, immediate factors such as high prices and rising mortgage rates are obstructing potential homebuyers. The average price of £300,000 is arduous for many, especially against the backdrop of stagnant wage growth.

Solutions to the Housing Crisis

Burnham has suggested using public land to decrease housing costs, yet past attempts to harness publicly owned land have often fallen short due to various restrictions. There are calls for increased state investment in social housing, but there is widespread agreement that a substantial boost in private housing construction is equally essential if Burnham hopes to efficiently address the nationwide crisis.

Analysts stress that while supporting social housing is crucial, without significant movement in the private sector, the overall housing supply will continue to falter. If Burnham manages to harmonize these efforts as prime minister, he may yet find a path to alleviate the UK’s pressing housing challenges.