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The government has earmarked investment worth 拢68m to support Greater Manchester鈥檚 target of building more than 227,000 homes by 2035.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has already guaranteed 拢215m for housebuilding programmes in Oxfordshire and said it will back authorities in the West of England to nearly double the number of new homes from 4,000 to 7,500 units a year with a series of measures including 拢3m for what it labelled 鈥渟pecialist support鈥�.

MHCLG said the Manchester funding would help develop brownfield sites as well as getting houses built of smaller plots of land.

Manchester鈥檚 mayor Andy Burnham (pictured) said he welcomed the government鈥檚 move as one 鈥渢hat will allow us to build on more of Greater Manchester鈥檚 brownfield sites鈥�.

But he said it was not just about the number of homes and he wanted to see more 鈥渢ruly affordable homes built and more homes available for social rent鈥� across Greater Manchester.

鈥淚 also want the rewritten Greater Manchester Spatial Framework to specify a date by which all new homes built across Greater Manchester should be net zero carbon. This is all part of my ambition,鈥� he added.

The MHCLG has also shortlisted a further 44 areas for funding for major infrastructure projects worth 拢4.1bn, offering the potential to deliver more than 400,000 homes, according to ministers. 

Housing secretary Sajid Javid said the government was 鈥渄etermined to build the homes this country needs. That鈥檚 why we鈥檙e working with ambitious areas across England and backing them with investment and support.

鈥淭his new housing investment in Greater Manchester, the West of England and Oxfordshire will help build much-needed homes, giving more people the opportunity to get on the property ladder.鈥�