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All Aboard The Bi-Polar Express – Time To Take Stock?
A prominent surveyor has warned that too many people are onboard with moving at express speed to utilise unused railway property for homes in a scheme that...
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Full Steam Ahead For Railway Land Home Building
Window and construction businesses could soon see demand rise as a massive new homes building initiative comes on stream to build on surplus railway land.
The Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander and Network Rail has launched a major property development initiative. Platform4 is a new government-owned company. It has been created to deliver up to 40,000 homes over the next decade, with 15,000 expected in the first five years.
Unlocking brownfield regeneration
The initiative is expected to generate £1bn in development value and create thousands of jobs. New homes, green spaces, retail space, and hotels will be delivered in cities including:
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Manchester Mayfield – up to 1,500 homes.
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Newcastle Forth Goods Yard – up to 600 homes.
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Cambridge – 425 homes in a mixed-use development.
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Nottingham – 200 new homes, building on success at The Barnum.
These developments will support urban regeneration and create new opportunities for retail businesses and local services.
Why Platform4?
Previously, surplus rail land was managed separately by London and Continental Railways and Network Rail’s property team. This led to inefficiencies and missed opportunities. Platform4 brings these teams together, combining skills and resources to speed up housing delivery, attract investment and regenerate communities. It is also expected to unlock an extra £227m through joined-up working.
Who’s leading it?
Experienced regeneration leader Bek Seeley has been appointed Chair of Platform4. Seeley brings deep expertise from both public and private sectors, including her role as Chair of the Euston Housing Delivery Group. She says: “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 Labour’s Plan for Change promise to build 1.5m homes, while reviving communities around rail stations, supporting jobs and driving economic growth.”
Platform4 was first created in July but now has the critical mass to launch publicly.
Profits generated from the property company will be reinvested into Britain’s railways.
What other partners in Platform4 say
Ian Hoad, CEO of Keepmoat: “Keepmoat is one of the UK’s leading partnership homebuilders and over 80% of our current developments are on brownfield land, so we recognise the huge potential of unlocking more unused railway land to support the delivery of new homes. We are looking forward to continuing to work with our partners to play our part in supporting that delivery.”
Helen Gordon, CEO of Grainger plc, says: “Platform4’s launch, with its focus on brownfield railway sites, is most welcome. These well-connected locations are ideal for delivering the high-quality, sustainable homes we need. Our partnership with Network Rail, delivering rental homes, highlights how public and private collaboration can accelerate housing delivery, boosting economic growth and vibrant communities.”
Neil Jefferson, CEO at the Home Builders Federation, says: “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 British Property Federation spokesperson says: “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.”
Article written by Cathryn Ellis
19th November 2025