A new task force has been established in Greater Manchester to lead the delivery of 30,000 net zero social rented homes across the city-region by 2038.
The creation of social rented, net zero homes will help Greater Manchester to meet its science-based target of becoming net zero by 2038
The Greater Manchester Truly Affordable Net Zero Homes (TANZ) Task Force brings together local authorities, housing providers, businesses, developers, researchers and others with existing housing bodies, the Northern Housing Consortium and Homes England.
The establishment of the TANZ Task Force follows the election commitment of Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to deliver the 30,000 net zero social rented homes. It has a specific focus to drive forward delivery of this target and to ensure all new housing development will be carbon neutral by 2028.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “The delivery of net zero carbon homes – particularly those available for social rent – is a vital way for making Greater Manchester a green and fairer place.
“This is a hugely impactful way of becoming more energy efficient, not just benefitting our environment, but reducing the costs of heating and warming homes and now more than ever this is something people are becoming desperately worried about.
“In addition to this, investing in the skills development and training required for new methods of construction and modular house building required is vital and I will continue to make the case to government to give us greater local powers and investment to do this so we can continue to lead the way and build on the existing net zero homes projects already underway here.
“This Task Force brings together a highly skilled and experienced group of people who will drive Greater Manchester forward and deliver the 30,000 net zero carbon homes for social rent our region needs to be green and fairer.”
Steve Rumbelow, Chief Executive Portfolio Lead for Place-Based Regeneration & Housing has been appointed to chair the task force.
The first meeting of the Task Force which took place on Friday 18 November included introductions, a review of existing net zero housing development and challenges of delivery at scale, and an overview and discussion of barriers to delivering of exemplar projects.
Steve Rumbelow said: “To meet Greater Manchester’s ambitions of reaching net zero carbon by 2038, we must use cutting edge design and construction techniques along with energy efficient materials to build homes which produce as much energy as they use.
“Every new home that is built that is not net zero carbon adds to the retrofit challenge that we face as we try to decarbonise our existing housing stock. At the same time, we have to make energy consumption smarter and more affordable for local people within their homes.
“The delivery of 30,000 net zero carbon social rented homes is a huge step up from business as usual and requires a major reengineering of existing ways of working across the supply of land, construction, skills, funding, infrastructure, supply chain and most importantly how this impacts people. That’s why this task force is so important in bringing all the right people and experience together to work towards the goal of making social housing more affordable and green. The Task Force will help to lobby for, progress and coordinate the changes necessary.”
