Despite efforts to build more homes, property in Salford is becoming “less affordable”, the city’s mayor has said.
Paul Dennett has warned that the cost of living in Salford is being pushed further out of reach for some of the city’s residents as prices continue to surge.
A report by the council stated that 1,903 affordable homes were built between 2019/20 and 2024/25, a figure it describes as a ‘very successful’ number.
Swathes of the city have benefited from large-scale regeneration, including key areas around the city-centre Greengate neighbourhood, and Salford Quays.
But data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that average rents and house prices are climbing.
The average house price in Salford was £217,000 in March 2025, up 3.6 per cent from March 2024 according to the ONS.
While private rents rose to an average of £1,111 in April 2025, an annual increase of 7.6pc from £1,033 in April 2024.
Homelessness is also a major issue, with 753 households in temporary accommodation as of October 2024, including 1065 children.
The council has launched a plan called ‘Salford’s Good Homes Strategy’ up to 2030, aimed at creating a ‘continuous pipeline of new housing’ across the city, with ‘maximised’ affordable accommodation from its housing partners.
It includes a review of housing conditions around Salford, to make sure people are living in ‘good quality, safe, warm, dry, energy efficient’ homes, which are ‘well managed’.
“Despite us exceeding our housing targets, housing, property, rents have become less affordable in line with individual income and household income,” Salford’s city mayor Paul Dennett said.
“I think it was Adam Smith who talked about if you increase supply it makes things more affordable, well apparently that does not happen in the city of Salford.”
The council’s cabinet team approved the new housing strategy during a meeting at Salford Civic Centre on May 27.
Coun Tracy Kelly, Salford’s deputy mayor and lead member for housing, said: “We’re well aware that this is not in isolation with the council, it’s a partnership approach.
“It’s incumbent on all of our partners to work collaboratively to eradicate homelessness, temporary accommodation etcetera.
“This is not going to be a walk in the park, this is just the beginning really, we’ve got a lot to do.”
