Muse are Ready to Deliver Almost 15,000 New Homes

In his party conference address, the Minister of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed said “national renewal depends on the renewal of every town, village and community that makes up our great country.” At Muse, we believe that thoughtful placemaking and well designed new homes are at the heart of that renewal. 

I’ve reflected on Muse’s readiness to deliver thousands of new homes, the support required from government to unlock viability, and how a regional, place-led approach can ensure new homes are part of thriving communities across the country.

The Minister of State has signalled a renewed focus on tackling the UK’s housing crisis, announcing plans for a series of new towns and setting a clear direction for the years ahead. His message was unmistakable: building the homes our country so urgently needs is at the top of the national agenda. It’s a message that Muse has heard loud and clear, and one we are ready to respond to. 

For the past two years, our placemaking teams working with our partners at Muse, ECF and Habiko, have been preparing sites across the country so we can move quickly. Today, we have a pipeline of 14,732 homes ready to be delivered across 17 communities in Manchester, London, the Midlands, Yorkshire and the North East. Of these, 30% – around 4,368 homes – will be affordable. 

At the heart of our approach is a commitment to creating places where people can live, work, and thrive, through a regional approach to placemaking.  

Our regional teams across the country know their communities and work in genuine partnership with local authorities and stakeholders. That local expertise allows us to create communities that reflect the specific needs of each place.  

In Salford, we are delivering the North West’s largest collection of Passivhaus-certified affordable homes, and in Stockport, our partnership delivers new homes alongside jobs, retail, and public spaces. In Canning Town, Manor Road Quarter will bring over 800 new homes (50% affordable) centered on a 2.9 ha linear park, with shops, green infrastructure and a commitment to sustainability which is helping to build a strong sense of community

Whilst Muse are ready to play our part in addressing the urgent need for new homes, we cannot ignore the barriers that hold projects back. Viability remains an issue on certain sites. Land remediation, infrastructure, and the rising costs of delivery mean that some schemes cannot proceed without targeted support. 

This is a message I shared with the new Minister at a roundtable for industry leaders in September, where he seemed genuinely engaged and willing to listen to our views.

Following a parliamentary event which we hosted earlier this year alongside the Northern Housing Consortium and Homes England, a new parliamentary inquiry has been launched in the North. The inquiry will explore regeneration’s role in tackling the housing crisis, delivering growth and strengthening communities in the North of England. By understanding these barriers, the inquiry aims to make practical recommendations that make new homes both economically possible and socially sustainable. We’re proud to be supporting this by sharing our experience to help shape practical solutions that will get more homes built and drive meaningful change. 

Our commitment is not only to deliver quality new homes, but to create meaningful placemaking that transforms whole areas. After all, people make places. That principle is at the heart of our work. We are committed to creating neighbourhoods that are more than just housing numbers- places with character, identity and long-term opportunities. 

Muse are ready to deliver the new homes our country needs. With almost 15,000 homes in our pipeline, with strong partnerships, and with regional teams embedded in communities, we want to play our part in meeting the country’s urgent need for housing.

But to make this happen everywhere, government must work with us to unlock viability challenges. If it does, we will deliver not only the homes Britain needs, but the places where people can thrive.

The message from Government is clear. The time to build is now. And we are ready to deliver.