Greater Manchester’s housing fund has been cleared by the Court of Appeal, ending a two-year legal fight over £140 million in public loans for city centre skyscrapers. The Greater Manchester Combined Authority welcomed the 29 June ruling, which found no error of law in decisions made by its former mayor, Andy Burnham.
Lord Justice Zacaroli dismissed the appeal brought by Aubrey Weis, a rival developer who argued the loans to Daren Whitaker’s Renaker were made at unduly favourable rates. Sitting with Lord Justice Nugee and Lord Justice Miles, he said the process was “designed to ensure that the GMCA acted on a commercial basis.” The case centred on Trinity Islands and New Jackson, two high-rise developments in Manchester city centre.
The Housing Investment Loans Fund was set up in 2015 with £300 million of government backing to unlock stalled sites. Since then it has supported 11,000 new homes across the conurbation, including 38 small loans to SME builders. All interest and principal has been repaid, with no defaults recorded. The original Competition Appeal Tribunal ruling in July 2025 had already backed the GMCA on every count, finding the authority had “substantial protection” against risk.
Weis Group said it was disappointed but insisted the judgment confirmed “serious concerns” about how more than £1 billion of public money had been handled. The company is considering whether to seek permission for a further appeal to the Supreme Court. Andy Burnham, who chaired the committee that approved the loans in March 2024, was elected MP for Makerfield on 19 June and is widely tipped to become the country’s next prime minister.
The Court of Appeal did note “well founded criticisms” over a lack of due diligence on Mr Whitaker’s overall finances. However, the three judges concluded the GMCA had lawfully decided the loans were not a subsidy. A spokesperson for the authority said the fund had “lawfully helped rebuild confidence in Greater Manchester’s housing market.”
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