London-based housing association giant becomes part of the Manchester Housing Providers’ Partnership
L&Q has joined a group of Manchester social landlords, underlining its increasing focus in the region since its acquisition of Trafford Housing Trust.
The 105,000-home housing association is now a member of the Manchester Housing Providers’ Partnership (MHPP), a group of 18 providers targeting housing growth operating in the city region.
L&Q acquired 9,000-home THT in 2019, and it was fully amalgamated into the group in March last year. L&Q completed 216 homes in the Manchester area in 2023/24 and has 367 handovers forecast for 2024/25. It currently has 10 schemes onsite in the north-west delivering a total more than 1,100 new homes.
L&Q’s schemes in Manchester include the Victoria Riverside development, which is being delivered in partnership with developer Far East Consortium (FEC) and Manchester City Council. The scheme includes 128 shared ownership apartments.
The MHPP brings together registered providers and the city council in partnership to facilitate local delivery on key strategic themes. These include growth and the delivery of affordable homes, community safety, homelessness, zero carbon, as well as employment and skills.
Ben Townsend, new business director, north west, at L&Q said: “We are thrilled to join the MHPP and benefit from the collective experience and drive of partners to improve the housing offer in Manchester, whilst sharing our experience, best practice and specialisms in development.
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“Since L&Q joined together with Trafford Housing Trust in 2023, following a joint venture launched in 2019, we have been developing our ambition to deliver growth and much-needed new homes across Greater Manchester. At L&Q, we pride ourselves on delivering maximum impact through strategic, place-shaping projects at scale and look forward to contributing with partners to meet these ambitions in the region.”
Nick Horne, chair of MHPP and chief executive at Wythenshawe Community Housing Group, said “L&Q has a strong reputation across the country as a significant investor in homes and communities and are a welcome and valued new member of the partnership. I’m confident their experience, capacity and contribution will enhance our collective capability to deliver the ambitious targets of the Manchester Housing Strategy, which include 36,000 new homes by 2032, 10,000 of which will be affordable homes”
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