Metro Mayor Andy Burnham says he will offer to new Prime Minister Keir Starmer to build “at least our share if not more” of 1.5 million new homes.

In an interview with the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, the Mayor of Greater Manchester said he hoped the days-old new government would commit to investment in Northern city regions.

He said he wants investment in rail infrastructure and new housing, singling out new social or council housing required to meet demand.

Mr Burnham said that he and other mayors will be meeting Sir Keir Starmer over the next week to discuss investment in the English regions.

Mr Burnham said: “I will also be offering to Keir to build at least our share, if not more of our share, of the 1.5 million houses he wants to build in this parliament.

“Greater Manchester has already allocated the sites to do that.

Andy Burnham at the Farnworth Green development with council deputy leader Cllr Akhtar Zaman (Image: Newsquest)

“We would like a large number of these homes to be council houses.

“Let’s not just build more homes, let's actually deal with the housing crisis, solve the housing crisis; we think we can do that.”

This came just days after the new Labour government swept to power with a landslide victory in the general election on Thursday.

The party made sweeping gains across Greater Manchester including taking all three seats in Bolton, two of which had previously been held by Conservatives, and both in Bury.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Burnham said: “I’m really excited to be in the position I’m in because I think this is going to be a great era for the English cities and the English regions.

“And Greater Manchester is going to be at the forefront of that with a government that says its mission is growth.”

Mr Burnham said that he would push more investment in transport links across the North West.

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He said the previous Conservative government had already left a £17 billion plan in place for new railway links.

Mr Burnham said: “One thing I will say to Keir and to the new government is commit early to the Northern Powerhouse, deliver what the Tories said they would but never did, I think that would be a very wise move.”

He added: “And what does that mean in practice? Well, it means in this parliament for instance making a start for instance on work for that new railway between Liverpool and Manchester.

“These are things that we can move on really quickly and that’s why this is such an exciting moment.”