The second draft of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) will aim to make the most of Greater Manchester’s brownfield sites and reduce the impact on greenbelt.
A timeframe for the development and publication of the second draft has been discussed between the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Salford City Mayor and the leaders of Greater Manchester’s councils and will take into account concerns raised by some members of the public during the first consultation period.
The framework is a joint plan for Greater Manchester that will provide the land for jobs and new homes across the region.
Paul Dennett, City Mayor of Salford and Greater Manchester Combined Authority lead member for housing, planning and homelessness, said:
“The Mayor of Greater Manchester and council leaders have discussed the next steps for the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.
“To do justice to the 27,000 responses received as part of the initial consultation, and to demonstrate continued trust and transparency in the process, we agreed a timetable with a series of steps leading up to the publication of the revised plan.
“This process will start in September with the publication of the responses to the initial consultation. This will be followed later in the year by the publication of data and associated sources of information such as population estimates which will help us calculate the requirements for housing and employment. Some of this information isn’t yet available, for example we are waiting for the government to publish its national methodology for calculating housing need, which we expect will now be released in the autumn.
“The second draft of the plan will be developed in the new year, with a view to publish it in June 2018. Following publication of the draft plan, there will be a 12-week consultation with the public.
“We will, of course, continue to listen to and engage with the public as the new draft of the plan is developed, as well as keeping the public updated on progress.”
Stockport Council have issued a statement on the revised GMSF schedule:
“Following today’s announcement regarding the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) revised schedule, Stockport Council would like to emphasise that the new timetable will fully complement the current development of its Local Plan.
“The revised GMSF timescale will enable work to continue to progress on the Stockport Local Plan, with the Council currently seeking views from residents on what issues we should include in the first draft. Once the comments and opinions of local people are gathered and assessed, the Council will move as quickly as possible to prepare a preferred options draft plan.”
Councillor Alex Ganotis, Leader of Stockport Council, said:
“I welcome the revised schedule of the GMSF, as this will give us extra time to go over the great amount of responses and have a transparent conversation with residents across Greater Manchester.
“Our Local Plan will follow closely with the GMSF process, whilst remaining distinct from it – providing a more detailed planning framework at a local level. The GMSF and our Local Plan process we are following will mean we are not left exposed to inappropriate development and will still allow the Council to carefully assess proposed land allocations.
“We will continue to develop our Local Plan in the next two years and it will help inform the GMSF work in terms of regeneration of main centres, maximizing the provision of homes within the existing urban area, focusing on sustainable development, promoting the right conditions for business growth and the creation of healthy communities.
“But I maintain my position that Stockport should only sign up to the final GMSF plans if a majority of councillors vote for it. However, the GMSF process remains the best opportunity we have to minimize future development on the green belt and open space that we value, so it’s important that we get it right. This revised timetable will help us do just that.”
The Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, which is being produced by all 10 councils working together in partnership, will ensure that the right land available in the right places to deliver the homes and jobs needed up to 2035, and will identify the new infrastructure such as transport, schools, health centres and utility networks required to achieve this.
It is envisaged that the GMSF will give Greater Manchester the chance to ensure there is the right mix of homes across the city region, including truly affordable housing to allow young people to find a home in communities where they want to live.
Making the most of brownfield sites, it will also set out it intends to enhance and protect the quality of the natural environment, conserve wildlife and tackle flood risks, so that we can accommodate growth sustainably.