Surplus railway land in Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, and Cambridge is being repurposed into vibrant neighbourhoods, bringing 40,000 new homes, along with green spaces, shops, and hotels over the next decade. The initiative, backed by £1 billion in investment, aims to rejuvenate underused rail sites and tackle the national housing shortage.

Of the 40,000 homes, 15,000 are expected to be delivered within the next five years. Key development sites include:

• Newcastle Forth Goods Yards – 600 new homes
• Manchester Mayfield – 1,500 new homes
• Cambridge – 425 new homes
• Nottingham – 200 additional new homes, building on 348 already completed

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced the plan, emphasizing the role of transport infrastructure in driving regeneration: “Our railways are more than just connections between places – they create economic opportunity and drive regeneration. It’s exciting to picture the thousands of families who will live in these future homes, the vibrant neighbourhoods springing up and the new businesses that will launch thanks to these developments.”

The transformation will be led by a new company, Platform4, formed from the merger of London and Continental Railways Limited and Network Rail’s property development team. Bek Seeley, who will chair Platform4 and formerly led European development at Lendlease, said: “Platform4 will deliver on key government priorities, creating new homes and jobs and stimulating economic growth. Working alongside our partners and local authorities, we will create sustainable places that bring communities and customers together and leave a positive legacy for future generations.”

The government added that: “Platform4’s creation demonstrates decisive action taken by the government to help rebuild Britain, helping to deliver new homes and the critical infrastructure that underpins economic growth.” “This infrastructure delivery will drive future productivity and higher living standards across the country, creating opportunities for businesses and workers alike.” Previously, both organisations managed rail land separately, which led to inefficiencies. Now, Platform4 unifies operations to streamline development, attract private investment, and accelerate regeneration efforts.

Profits from Platform4 will be reinvested into the rail network to support better services and infrastructure. Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said:

“We are facing a housing crisis which has led to a generation being locked out of homeownership, all while land sits empty and disused across the country. We said we’d do everything possible to get Britain building, and that’s why today we’re setting out how we’ll get more homes built across surplus railway network sites in line with our brownfield-first approach and our Plan for Change target of delivering 1.5 million homes.”

Neil Jefferson, CEO of the Home Builders Federation, welcomed the move: “The public sector can play a key part in providing the sites for the homes the country needs and we welcome moves to bring more of this land forward for development. Doing so will help address our chronic housing crisis, allow young people to access decent accommodation, create tens of thousands of jobs and generate investment in infrastructure and amenities in communities across the country.”

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Source: Juliet Shaw, Today's Conveyancer