With Richard Leese retiring, Manchester City Council announced plans to provide affordable homes in the gentrifying neighbourhood of Ancoats, reported as the first council housing in the city since the 1980s. However closer inspection of those plans reveals a more complex picture.
Greater Manchester tenants are suffering court judgements leading to eviction, with no regard to Covid induced privations
Investigation reveals the increasing numbers of tenants having possession orders awarded against them, paving the way to eviction, since the eviction ban ended. On average it took court hearings just ten minutes to deprive someone of their home.
Rochdale’s community-led housing pioneers lead the way to more social homes
Terry and Sue Smith have set up a housing co-operative to build homes for the community in Langley. ‘Rochdale is the birthplace of co-operation. We’re channelling that spirit.’
‘Justice gap’ is widening due to legal aid cuts and Covid induced deprivation
The ‘justice gap’ is the increasing divide between people who can and cannot afford to pay for legal representation, due to legal aid cuts. With deprivation increasing due to Covid more people face losing their jobs and homes, due to lack of legal counsel.
Greater Manchester Law Centre campaign volunteer Hoejong Jeong explains the legal barriers raised by the state and the pandemic.
Put people – not profit – at heart of land use, says Liverpool Land Commission
England’s first Land Commission, facilitated by the Manchester-based Centre for Local Economic Strategies, said Liverpool’s leaders should recognise “the true social purpose of land” rather than seeing it just as a “commodity”.
Salford tenants invited to join tenant climate jury
Salix Homes in Salford is inviting social tenants to join a first-of-its-kind tenants’ jury to consider how residents, social landlords and others can tackle climate change.
The privatisation of Manchester
As Manchester becomes increasingly gentrified and local communities are priced out, a new report on the city’s land use has found a pattern of privatisation and sell-offs – aided and abetted by its Labour council.
Are council deals with developers offering best value? Research paper questions development policy and calls for greater transparency
New research paper investigating the sale of public land in Manchester to property developers, questions whether the public are getting value for money in these deals.
Authors highlight lack of available information on development deals and call for a Land Commission. Manchester City Council responds.
Why planning is political
Andrea Sandor explores how community-led developments are putting democracy at the heart of the planning process.
Guest article first published in Red Pepper.
Q & A with teacher and union organiser Vik Chechi-Ribiero
Vik Chechi-Ribeiro is a science teacher at a Manchester academy and candidate for the National Education Union’s Executive. The union represents over 450,000 teachers and education staff in the UK. Nick Prescott speaks with him about exams, community organising, and the future of education. The highest growth of COVID-19 cases has been within the North […]