Next steps in Greater Manchester Spatial Framework announced

Greater Manchester Spatial Framework

A timeframe for the development and publication of the second draft of the Greater Manchester Spatial framework has been discussed by the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Salford City Mayor and the leaders of Greater Manchester’s councils.

The second draft will take into account concerns raised by some members of the public during the first consultation period, and will aim to make the most of Greater Manchester’s brownfield sites and reduce the impact on greenbelt.

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.”

The Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, which is being produced by all 10 councils working together in partnership, aims to ensure the right land is available in the right places to deliver the homes and jobs needed up to 2035. It will identify the new infrastructure such as transport, schools, health centres and utility networks required to achieve this.