Second draft of Greater Manchester Spatial Framework to be developed in new year

The second draft of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework is expected next year

The second draft of the controversial Greater Manchester Spatial Framework is expected to be developed in the new year, Wednesday’s (11 October) Council meeting was informed.

The GM Spatial Framework is planning for more significant levels of growth across Greater Manchester and the scale of growth requires the identification of strategic sites outside the urban areas which may require release of land from the Green Belt.

The draft plan will be developed in the new year, with a view to publishing it in June 2018. A final draft was due to go out to consultation later this year, and adoption was scheduled for 2018. This timetable has now been revised and the next draft will take into account comments received during the first consultation and aim to make the most of brownfield sites and reduce the impact on the green belt.

Following the Greater Manchester mayoral election earlier this year, the newly-elected Mayor Andy Burnham confirmed that he would rework the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework to include more emphasis on affordable homes, fringe towns, and a significant reduction in plans to build on Green Belt.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/112762/greater-manchester-mayor-andy-burnham-refocuses-planning-debate-on-town-centres

A first draft of the proposal was submitted in January, with hundreds opposing the plans at Green Belt rallies across Manchester.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/109221/hundreds-at-green-belt-rally-opposing-the-greater-manchester-spatial-framework

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/138/community-news/107616/public-meeting-objecting-gmsf-proposals-fills-newhey-lodge

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/138/community-news/107412/hundreds-turn-out-for-save-bamford-green-belt-ramble

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/107259/thousands-join-in-greenbelt-development-protest

The first draft proposed more than 15,000 houses to be developed across the Rochdale borough in Bamford and Norden, Roch Valley in Smallbridge, Trows Farm in Castleton, land to the north east of Smithy Bridge and land at Lane End to the east of Heywood, plus 120 houses in Milnrow and Newhey, and a further 1,400 houses across the River Beal in Shaw.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/106035/public-consultation-for-proposed-development-sites-across-the-borough-opens

Following publication of the draft plan, there will be a further 12-week consultation with the public.

Following adoption of the Core Strategy, the Council is commencing work on a Site Allocations Plan, which will identify the location and amount of land needed to deliver the housing and employment growth as set out in the strategy.

The Core Strategy is the Council's plan on how the borough should grow and develop up until 2028. It shows the scale of employment and housing land needed and identifies where regeneration and environmental improvements should be focused. It also looks at what transport and other services are needed to support growth and development.

The Sites Allocation Plan will identify the sites to deliver the spatial vision for Rochdale Borough and the level of growth set out in the Adopted Core Strategy and will focus on identifying sites for housing and employment use in the urban areas.

The Council intends to consult on the draft allocations plan this autumn, in parallel with any further consultation on the GM Spatial Framework.