Network Rail "working to identify unused land" as government plans 40,000 homes on former railway sites

Up to 40,000 new homes are to be built on land no longer needed by the railway.

Four schemes in Cambridge, Manchester, Newcastle and Nottingham have all come under the wing of Platform4, a new development company that brings together London and Continental Railways Ltd and Network Rail’s Property Team.

RAIL was told Network Rail’s Property Team had been working hard to identify land that was no longer needed for operational use and separate it from the railway for potential redevelopment.

The government hopes this will reduce the number of missed opportunities for strategic development and be more efficient.

The Department for Transport expects Platform4 to “kickstart £1 billion worth of new developments across the country” by “breathing life into forgotten corners of Britain’s railway land”.

Platform4 is also expected to generate an extra £227 million by delivering these homes “at greater pace and scale”.

Profits will be reinvested into the railway industry.

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.

Locations include Newcastle Forth Yards (up to 600 homes on the former yard west of the city’s station), Manchester Mayfield (1,500 new homes in and around the former station), Nottingham (200 more homes after 348 were built at The Barnum next to the station) and Cambridge (425 homes).

These homes are part of the government’s commitment to build 1.5 million homes. It’s hoped Platform4 will attract at least £350m in private sector investment.