By Charlie Winstanley    The recent article by Jen Williams investigating the conditions faced by homeless children in Manchester was truly shocking. It threw a light on the appalling conditions faced by families in temporary accommodation - rat infested properties shared with people that are putting children in danger. While the piece focused on Manchester, …

By Jon Silver (@InvisibleMapper)     The partnership between Manchester City Council and the Abu Dhabi United Group through their joint venture, Manchester Life, highlights the connections being made by a growing number of people between the housing crisis in British cities, flows of big capital seeking investment and worrying new international relations involving our …

By Jennifer Devans-Tamakloe, an aspiring barrister called to the Middle Temple and qualified mediator, currently working as a self-employed advocate on the northern circuit in general civil litigation matters. As a volunteer for GMLC, Jennifer aims to draw attention to GMLC’s causes and assist readers with gaining knowledge and understanding. Below, Jennifer responds to the …

Sophie King interviews Professor Diana Mitlin   At our next event on Thursday 1st November, Professor Diana Mitlin will address this question by engaging critically with the challenges, complexities, and possibilities that we have been discussing throughout the year. In the short interview that follows below, Diana gives us a sneak preview…   The penultimate session …

By Steady State Manchester The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has announced that the launch of a redrafted Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) has again been delayed.  Here's why.   1) GMCA now thinks 175,000 houses could be built on available land.  Most of this is  "brownfields" sites but some is on Green Belt [see …

By Richard Goulding and Sophie King   We are undoubtedly witnessing “a moment” in the history-making of community-led housing in the UK.  Where has it sprung from? Where is it going? What are the motivations behind new forms of political support on left and right, from the centre, and at the local level? What would …

Facebook Twitter Google+ EmailLinkEmbedCopy and paste this HTML code into your webpage to embed. By Siobhan Donnachie (@Siobhan_e_d) Summary: TUUK and GMHA are organising Renters’ Forums across the city to push for a renter-led policy response to the crisis of private renting. Rather than a disorganised left lamenting the death of a well funded social …

We’re seeking a Project Coordinator! Passionate about working to address the housing crisis in Greater Manchester? Want to be part of the movement for change? With the fight for our decent, secure, affordable housing more urgent than ever, Greater Manchester Housing Action (GMHA) is looking to engage a freelance coordinator for our Let’s Talk About Housing …

For years Manchester City Council (MCC) has had a chilling effect on any signs of life in the community-led housing (CLH) movement. Now, suddenly, it is counted among the Greater Manchester (GM) councils whose doors and ears are open to ideas for new, creative and democratic forms of housing. MCC's new Director for Housing and …

By Tom Moore (@Tom_Moore85 )   Community land trusts (CLTs) have been celebrated as a potential model for neighbourhood revival in areas of disinvestment and neglect. In the face of concerns about communities in many cities being displaced by rising land values, advocates hope that CLTs can also provide a way of enabling existing residents …