Brownfield railway land in Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Cambridge is set to be transformed into neighbourhoods, with 40,000 new homes, green spaces, shops and hotels.
The surplus rail land has been earmarked for £1 billion of development over the next decade, the government has said, with 15,000 of the homes to be completed in the next five years. Four sites already earmarked for development include Newcastle Forth Goods Yards (600 new homes), Manchester Mayfield (pictured, with 1,500 new homes), Cambridge (425 new homes) and Nottingham (200 new homes in addition to 348 already delivered).
The news was announced by transport secretary Heidi Alexander, who said:
“Our railways are more than just connections between places – they create economic opportunity and drive regeneration. It’s exciting to picture the thousands of families who will live in these future homes, the vibrant neighbourhoods springing up and the new businesses that will launch thanks to these developments.”
The delivery of the high-quality homes will be facilitated by new company Platform4, which has been formed by a merger of London and Continental Railways Limited and Network Rail’s property development team.
The company will be chaired by Bek Seeley, who previously led European development business for the multinational construction, property and infrastructure company Lendlease. She commented:
“Platform4 will deliver on key government priorities, creating new homes and jobs and stimulating economic growth. Working alongside our partners and local authorities, we will create sustainable places that bring communities and customers together and leave a positive legacy for future generations.”
‘Platform4’s creation demonstrates decisive action taken by the government to help rebuild Britain, helping to deliver new homes and the critical infrastructure that underpins economic growth’, the government said.
“This infrastructure delivery will drive future productivity and higher living standards across the country, creating opportunities for businesses and workers alike.”
Previously, London and Continental Railways Ltd and Network Rail’s Property Team operated independently, each managing different aspects of surplus rail land across the UK – an approach the government said ‘often led to inefficiencies, duplicated efforts and missed opportunities for strategic development’.
“Now, Platform4 will bring these two functions, skills and capabilities together in a unified structure to deliver 40,000 homes over the coming decade by disposing of surplus rail land, attracting private investment and accelerating community regeneration.”
Profits generated by the property company will be reinvested into Britain’s railways with the aim of supporting better services and infrastructure.
Deputy prime minister and housing secretary Angela Rayner commented:
“We are facing a housing crisis which has led to a generation being locked out of homeownership, all while land sits empty and disused across the country.
“We said we’d do everything possible to get Britain building, and that’s why today we’re setting out how we’ll get more homes built across surplus railway network sites in line with our brownfield-first approach and our Plan for Change target of delivering 1.5 million homes.”
Neil Jefferson, CEO at the Home Builders Federation, said of the plans:
“The public sector can play a key part in providing the sites for the homes the country needs and we welcome moves to bring more of this land forward for development. Doing so will help address our chronic housing crisis, allow young people to access decent accommodation, create tens of thousands of jobs and generate investment in infrastructure and amenities in communities across the country.”
