The Home Builders Federation (HBF) has called on the next mayor of Greater Manchester to use devolved powers to increase housebuilding, improve affordability and boost home ownership ahead of the forthcoming mayoral by-election.

In a new manifesto published ahead of the vote, the HBF sets out a series of recommendations aimed at accelerating housing delivery, attracting investment and supporting economic growth across the city region.

The trade body argues that Greater Manchester is well placed to become a national example of how devolved decision-making and strategic planning can help address housing shortages.

The publication comes as prime minister Andy Burnham, the former Greater Manchester mayor, has outlined plans to strengthen Manchester’s role in national politics through the creation of a “Number 10 North”.

According to the HBF, meeting Greater Manchester’s annual Standard Method housing target of 14,400 homes would support around 50,000 jobs each year, generate £3.2bn in economic activity, deliver £650m of investment in affordable housing and create £90m of investment in new infrastructure, including £40m for schools. It also estimates the target would support more than £400m of spending in local businesses.

The federation warns that housing affordability has deteriorated across all 10 Greater Manchester boroughs over the past two decades, with house prices rising faster than earnings. Across the North West, the proportion of households owning a home with a mortgage has fallen from 39% to 28%, while the share of private renters has more than doubled.

Despite these pressures, Greater Manchester has outperformed national trends on housing delivery. The city region completed an average of 10,650 homes a year over the past five years and recorded a 1.3% increase in completions during 2024/25, compared with a 6% fall across England.

The HBF says further progress will depend on overcoming national challenges, including limited support for first-time buyers, development viability pressures, affordable housing funding constraints and under-resourced planning departments.

Its manifesto calls on the incoming mayor to prepare a new Spatial Development Strategy, allocate more small sites for SME housebuilders and continue prioritising brownfield development in sustainable locations close to public transport.

The federation also wants the Mayor to work with government, Homes England and mortgage lenders to improve access to home ownership, while strengthening links between the construction industry and further education providers to help address skills shortages.

Neil Jefferson, chief executive of the HBF, said: “There is a real opportunity for the next Mayor of Greater Manchester to accelerate housing delivery and show how strong devolved leadership can help tackle the housing crisis.

“With greater powers over planning, transport and skills, the incoming Mayor can create the conditions that allow more homes to be built in the right places, support local jobs and investment, and make home ownership more achievable for thousands of people across the region.

“Our manifesto sets out practical, deliverable interventions that would help Greater Manchester meet its housing ambitions and provide a blueprint for other Combined Authorities across the country.”

“Increased taxes and policy costs, alongside suppressed demand due to a lack of affordable mortgage lending and no Government support for buyers, are preventing builders from increasing housing supply and putting the Government’s housing ambitions increasingly out of reach.”