What Could Andy Burnham's Premiership Mean for the UK Housing Market?

Housing has long been at the centre of new PM Andy Burnham's political vision. During his time as Mayor of Greater Manchester, he consistently argued that a secure, affordable home is the foundation for better health, education and economic opportunity. Now in Downing Street, housing is expected to become one of the defining priorities of his government. While the details will emerge over the coming months, there are already several clear signals about the direction of travel.

Burnham has made clear that his primary focus as PM is to end rough sleeping. He’s already committed £340 million of funding to do so, which will go towards providing support for at least 3,000 long-term rough sleepers over the next 5 years.

In the longer term he has ambitions to oversee “the largest council house building programme since the post-war period”. He believes that increasing the supply of genuinely affordable homes is key to tackling the housing crisis, reducing homelessness, and easing pressure on the private rented sector. It’s unclear exactly how he will deliver this- whether he intends for councils to directly build new homes, or whether this will be social housing. Regardless, for developers, this could create significant opportunities through public-private partnerships, land development, and regeneration schemes.  However, the impact will not be immediate. Large-scale housing programmes take years to deliver, meaning supply constraints in many areas are likely to remain in the short term.

The previous government had already begun reforming the planning system, and Burnham appears committed to keeping housing delivery moving, meaning we may see:

• Faster planning approvals.
• Increased powers for local and regional authorities.
• Greater use of public land for housing.
• More regeneration-led development.

If successfully implemented, these changes could increase housing supply over the medium term.

One of Burnham's defining political themes is devolution and regional investment. His plans to shift more decision-making away from Westminster could benefit towns and cities outside London, particularly across the North of England. Greater infrastructure investment often leads to increased housing demand, making regional markets (including Nottingham) ones to watch over the next few years.

One of the biggest unknowns surrounds taxation. Burnham has previously expressed interest in reforming property taxation, including discussions around replacing or reforming Council Tax and Stamp Duty with alternative systems such as a land value tax. However, no formal policy has yet been announced.

In the short term, major changes to house prices are unlikely to come directly from government policy. Prices will continue to be influenced by a range of factors including interest rates, mortgage availability, inflation, employment levels, and buyer confidence. However, if Burnham succeeds in significantly increasing housing supply over the coming years, price growth may become more sustainable.

For buyers, the message remains unchanged. If you're financially ready and planning to stay in a property for several years, waiting for political change is rarely a winning strategy. For sellers, demand remains strongest for well-priced homes in desirable locations. For investors, the biggest opportunities may lie in regional cities where infrastructure investment, regeneration and housing delivery align.

Final Thoughts

Andy Burnham has made clear that housing will sit at the heart of his government's agenda. Early announcements, including a commitment to build more council homes and a funded drive to end rough sleeping, show that housing policy is already moving to the top of the national agenda. That said, many of the most significant reforms remain proposals rather than policy. Questions around planning, property taxation and delivery timelines still need answers. The UK housing market is unlikely to change overnight, but the direction of travel is becoming clearer: greater public investment, more affordable housing, stronger regional growth, and a focus on increasing supply.