Revised Spatial Framework timetable to go before leaders

Greater Manchester Spatial Strategy

Revised plans for the timetable of the publication and consultation on the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) will go before leaders at next week’s Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) meeting.

Leaders agreed at June’s GMCA meeting that the Spatial Framework consultation would be delayed to make sure that it uses the most-up-to-date figures. This came after official population estimates showed slower projected growth in Greater Manchester’s population. This could mean there will be lower household growth projections when the figures are released in September 2018.

Greater Manchester Leaders will be presented with a report on the GMSF timetable at the next GMCA meeting on July 27. This will outline plans for the draft GMSF to be reported to the October GMCA meeting for approval before a 12-week consultation period.

After this consultation, further work will take place on the plan before a new draft goes before the GMCA for approval and another consultation period takes place next year. This plan will then be approved by the Combined Authority for submission to the Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government towards the end of 2019 or start of 2020.

The GMSF will be Greater Manchester’s plan to solve the housing crisis and realise Greater Manchester’s economic vision by ensuring we have the right land available in the right places to deliver the homes and jobs we need over the next 20 years, and will identify the new infrastructure required to achieve this. The plan will help Greater Manchester to ensure the city-region makes the most of brownfield sites and town centres and minimises the need for Green Belt development.

The consultation later this year will use the online platform Citizen Space for the engagement process. This will allow the GMCA to post all of the information, documents and reading material alongside the consultation as well as provide details of any community engagement events for people to attend. The platform is accessible on mobile devices and will allow respondents to give as much or as little information as they wish when responding.

Greater Manchester’s lead for housing, homelessness and infrastructure, Paul Dennett, said: “The Spatial Framework is our chance to provide the homes and jobs we need to make sure everyone can grow up, get on and get old. We are determined to get this plan right for everyone and while delaying the plan was not an easy decision, it was the right one.

“The new timetable will give us the opportunity to make sure we are using the most up-to-date information and plan for the right number of homes for the city-region. We are committed to doing this work in the most open and transparent way possible and will continue to keep the people of Greater Manchester up to date and involved in the process.”

All local authorities are required to have a local plan and the GMSF will provide the strategic context for the local plans of the 10 districts in the city-region. The Spatial Framework is also a requirement as part of Greater Manchester’s devolution deal.