Andy Burnham has scaled back an earlier pledge that all £39billion of the government's social and affordable homes programme would go towards council housing, with the first funding allocations instead following Sir Keir Starmer's original plan. The Government has announced initial allocations from the fund to build more than 70,000 homes across England, with 60 per cent earmarked for social rent, rather than being dedicated entirely to council homes as Burnham suggested during his by-election campaign for the Makerfield seat. The discrepancy has drawn criticism, with the Conservatives noting the funding has been "backloaded" beyond this Parliament, while Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook insisted the initial funding wave matched Burnham's ambitions.

The first-stage allocations include over £2billion for mayoral areas outside London, with more than £16billion still to be distributed, while the Greater London Authority is set to make available at least £6billion, with councils expected to deliver over half of London's planned homes. Regional breakdowns show Greater Manchester receiving £529 million for 4,400 homes, the West Midlands £409 million for 3,200 homes, the North East £445 million for 3,400 homes, West Yorkshire £441 million for 4,000 homes, Liverpool City Region £380 million for 3,100 homes, and South Yorkshire £249 million for 2,200 homes. Housing Secretary Angela Rayner and Burnham both framed the funding as a step towards tackling the housing crisis, with Burnham stating that "councils built this country out of a housing crisis once before" and would do so again.