Masterplan that will dictate next few decades of new housing in Greater Manchester could be delayed again

The huge masterplan that will dictate the next few decades of new housing in Greater Manchester could be delayed again.

The Places for Everyone plan, which will see 175,000 new homes built has been the subject of an eight-month examination process.

The secretary of state made modifications to the plans, which are currently undergoing a consultation period ending on 6 December.

Once public feedback has been gathered, a report will be sent to the government. It will then be decided whether further deliberation is needed, Anne Morgan, head of planning strategy at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority told the region’s planning and housing commission.

She said that extra deliberation sessions would lead up to the pre-election period known as purdah, meaning a decision may only be finalised after the local elections in May 2024. Key council decisions are not usually announced during this time.

Council bosses hope further hearings are not required by examiners and a decision can finally be agreed in early 2024.

The plan’s predecessor, the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, went through several rounds of consultation before Stockport council pulled out in 2020, leaving the other nine boroughs in the region to come up with a new one.

The revised plan, which was subject to months of public hearings starting last year, would see more than 2,000 hectares of land taken out of the green belt.

“This has clearly been a long process and we are now at an advanced stage,” Anne Morgan said. “Once they’ve finalised their deliberations they will issue their final decision.

“We are hoping to get that early in the new year. It all depends on the number of comments we get (on the consultation).

“It possibly could run into purdah, we hope not. If that would be the case we wouldn’t be talking about a decision in the pre-election period.”

Following a ‘rigorous and independent examination process’, inspectors have recommended that a series of ‘main modifications’ are necessary to make the 175,000 home plan sound and legally compliant.

They have requested that these should be subject to consultation. While there are many proposed modifications – including amending the plan period from 2020 to 2037 to 2022 to 2039 – the vision remains the same, leaders say.

The main changes include boundary changes to housing developments and the removal of the North of Irlam Station site – reducing the loss of green belt land. The Salford-based site would have provided around 800 homes, but the impact on green field land was deemed too severe.

To better protect green belt land, the sites of Timperley Wedge for 1,700 homes and Elton Reservoir for 3,500 homes had their boundaries altered. The proposed modifications have been approved for consultation by each of the nine councils.

GMCA have stated that comments can only be issued on the changes to the plan and not any other section. Comments received that do not relate to the modifications, will not be considered.

Comments can be submitted via the online portal, by email or by letter. To have your say, go to https://www.gmconsult.org/pfe/mainmods2023/

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter