North-west housing plan revealed

Communities minister Baroness Andrews has revealed details of the government's housing plans for the north-west of England under the regional spatial strategy.

The overall total of new homes to be built in the region by 2021 is 413,000, a number the minister said it is important to achieve to allow people to still get on the housing ladder.

Regional spatial strategies are intended to link together issues such as housing with matters such as employment, the economy and transport.

Under the plan, Manchester, Salford and Liverpool have been identified as the places of greatest housing need, with Manchester and Liverpool being given priority as core city areas to focus on.

The other area identified for focus is mid-Lancashire.

Baroness Andrews said: "The north-west needs a long-term strategy for boosting its economy, addressing housing need and protecting the environment by tackling climate change."

Earlier this week HBOS revealed that data from the Office for National Statistics showed the city of Manchester to be the only local authority area in the north-west to have seen a population increase of over ten per cent in the decade from 1997 to 2007.