Plans for 227,200 new homes in Manchester gets green light

October 31, 2016 / Isla MacFarlane
Plans for 227,200 new homes in Manchester gets green light

The first draft of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, which aims to deliver 227,200 new homes across Greater Manchester by 2035, has been approved by authorities and launched for public consultation.

The views of Greater Manchester residents will now be sought during an eight-week consultation.

The GMSF is the joint authorities’ plan for land allocation across Greater Manchester to provide housing and investment opportunities for sustainable growth. Greater Manchester’s local authorities are working together to ensure new homes and jobs are provided in the right places with the transport infrastructure to support communities and manage growth sustainably.

A growth option for Greater Manchester was agreed at the August 2016 meeting of the joint GMCA board. This has now been developed into a draft plan, which identifies the need for an additional 227,200 new homes across Greater Manchester by 2035.

A key consideration of the development of the framework has been to adopt a brownfield first approach to land allocation. Nearly three quarters of the proposed land supply is within the existing urban area on brownfield land with remaining new allocations from land being withdrawn from the greenbelt. A new greenbelt boundary for Greater Manchester aims to to prevent development in the newly designated greenbelt whilst also meeting our housing and employment needs over the next 20 years.

Greater Manchester’s greenbelt was designated thirty years ago to check unplanned development and whilst it is still relevant for that purpose the time has come to revise the boundary to ensure space for growth over the next 20 years.

The GMSF aims to minimise the amount of greenbelt land required for development by focusing on relatively few, large sites. This will provide opportunities to support developments with the required transport infrastructure, necessary school places and other vital services needed to create successful neighbourhoods.

“In order to continue to attract business, workers and tourists, we need to grow,” said Councillor Richard Farnell, lead member for planning and housing at GMCA. “We will successfully manage this growth and deliver major economic, social and environmental improvements. We are mindful that this needs to support Greater Manchester’s prosperity in the long term as well as meet its short-term needs. We want all residents of Greater Manchester to share in the benefits of this prosperity.”

Views submitted will be considered and a final draft will be published in 2017 when another period of consultation will be held.

PICTURE CREDIT: Tim Green

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