Providing a ‘good home for all’ is one of seven priorities in delivering the council’s commitment to building a fairer, greener, healthier and more inclusive Salford for all. Increasing the supply of good quality affordable housing is a key component of achieving this.
Increasing homelessness and need for affordable housing
There are over 5,000, as at 30 September 2024, households on the city’s housing register assessed as being in housing need. In 2023/24 only 910 homes were advertised through Salford Homesearch, with each property receiving on average over 150 bids.
We calculate that the city needs an extra 809 affordable homes every year just to meet current need. This is not just a Salford issue and is recognised in the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s 2024 Places For Everyone plan which sets out ambitions for the delivery of 50,000 additional affordable homes across Greater Manchester up until 2039.
Over the last 5 years an average of 310 new affordable homes have been built in Salford each year. Whilst this number represents a collaborative effort from the council and its partners, it still falls short of the number calculated to meet demand.
How do we help with provision of affordable housing?
The council helps provide affordable homes in a number of ways:
Development and planning
Planning obligations require developers to provide affordable homes as part of their developments. Whilst the Local Plan considers that at least 20% of new dwellings on every major development in Salford should be affordable, the number of affordable homes delivered through the planning obligations is small.
Housing Associations and Registered Provider partners
The majority of new affordable homes are built by Housing Associations (Registered Providers) often with support from government grants.
The council work with our partners to provide up to date housing need information to help identify what type of housing is needed in different areas across the city, helping to shape development of new supply.
Together we:
- identify suitable land, buildings and commercial space for housing provision
- bring empty homes back into use
- support bids to Homes England for funding
- support schemes through planning permission to completion
- lobby government for more funding for affordable homes
Dérive Salford
In 2017 the council established its own local housing company to increase the number of truly affordable homes being built in the city. The first homes were delivered in 2019 with 356 homes built by September 2024, with a further 1,000 homes in construction or development. In 2023 Dérive was awarded Registered Provider status by the social housing regulator, allowing it to access government funding to help deliver its own affordable homes.
Credit for image: Our Studio and Buttress
Affordable housing developments 2024/25
| Scheme | Postcode | Ward | Total number of units | Number of units handed over in 24/25 | Affordable tenure | Developed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longshaw | M28 0BW | Little Hulton | 113 | 6 | Affordable rent, Social rent, Shared ownership | Dérive |
| Hopwood Street | M27 8UR | Swinton Park | 8 | 8 | Social rent | ForHousing |
| Hilltop | M28 3QA | Walken North | 90 | 61 | Affordable rent, Social rent, Shared ownership | Great Places |
| Cherry Tree | M6 5US | Pendleton and Charlestown | 63 | 63 | Social rent | Guinness |
| Hallsworth Road | M30 7LS | Eccles | 48 | 48 | Social rent | ForHousing |
| Irwell Valley | M6 6BE | Pendleton and Charlestown | 46 | 46 | Affordable rent, Social rent | Dérive |
| Kara Street | M6 5QD | Weaste and Seedley | 91 | 52 | Affordable rent, Social rent, Shared ownership | Salix |
| Larch Road | M30 8LF | Eccles | 6 | 6 | Social rent | ForHousing |
| Crompton Street | M28 3HP | Swinton and Wardley | 5 | 5 | Shared ownership | Great Places |
| St Lukes | M5 5JH | Weaste and Seedley | 68 | 68 | Affordable rent, Social rent | Dérive |
| Dudley Street | M30 8PT | Eccles | 18 | 18 | Social rent | ForHousing |
| Brackley | M38 9TR | Little Hulton | 8 | 8 | Affordable rent | Dérive |
| Eccles New Road | M5 5QY | Weaste and Seedley | 14 | 14 | Social rent |
Dérive |
Types of affordable tenure
Both affordable and social rent homes are managed and let by Registered Providers of social housing.
Social rent homes are those which are set through the National Rent standards in England at around 50% of market rents.
Affordable rent homes are let at least 20% below local market rents or at rates set between market rents and social rents.
The market rent or market value refers to the cost of housing either for rent or for sale in the private sector. Calculating market costs takes into account the property size, type and location.
Shared ownership gives buyers the opportunity to purchase a share in a property. The purchaser pays a mortgage on the share they own, and pays a subsidised rent to a housing association on the remaining share.