Government unveils Platform4 to provide 40,000 homes using excess railway land. – TNT

The government has announced plans to build thousands of new homes on surplus railway land, as Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander unveils a major initiative to unlock brownfield sites across the country for development.

A new public property company, Platform4, has been launched to lead the delivery of up to 40,000 homes over the next decade by transforming disused railway land into vibrant, connected communities.

Platform4 will bring together the property arms of Network Rail and London & Continental Railways, streamlining efforts to regenerate underused sites and accelerating the delivery of housing near key transport hubs. The initiative is expected to unlock £1bn in investment.

By consolidating these efforts under one organisation, the government estimates Platform4 could generate an additional £227m through faster and more coordinated development at scale.

Under the banner of Platform4, neighbourhoods in cities such as Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, and Cambridge are set for regeneration. The plans include new homes, green spaces, retail units, and hotels—delivering thousands of new jobs in the process.

The launch of Platform4 also sees the appointment of Bek Seeley as chair. The company also aims to draw in over £350 million in private investment, accelerating development near transport hubs.

Tasked with tackling the complexities of building on railway land, Platform4 will also work in partnership with other public sector landowners—enhancing the appeal of these sites to private developers and helping to fast-track much-needed regeneration.

Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: “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.

“Platform4 will breathe new life into these spaces, delivering tens of thousands of new homes as part of our Plan for Change promise to build 1.5 million homes, while reviving communities around rail stations, supporting jobs and driving economic growth.

Four sites already earmarked for development include Newcastle Forth Goods Yards, Manchester Mayfield, Cambridge and Nottingham, which together will see over 2,700 new homes delivered and brownfield land transformed into vibrant neighbourhoods:

Newcastle Forth Goods Yard: opportunity for up to 600 new homes and unlocking additional new homes

Manchester Mayfield: opportunity for 1,500 new homes

Cambridge: a mixed-use development with 425 homes

Nottingham: 200 new homes following 348 successfully delivered homes at The Barnum

Deputy PM 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.”

Profits generated from Platform4 will be reinvested into Britain’s railways, will also helping to deliver new homes and the critical infrastructure that underpins economic growth.

Bek Seeley, chair of Platform4, commented: “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.”

Reflecting on the launch of Platform4, Neil Jefferson, CEO at the Home Builders Federation, said: “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.”

A spokesperson from the British Property Federation added: “The formation of this new development company is a welcome move that releases surplus and under-utilised public assets to generate an investable return, helps to stimulate local regeneration and economic growth, and aids housing delivery. We hope the company will have a transformative impact on local communities across the country.”