Smithy Bridge and Littleborough Save the Greenbelt Group host well-attended 'green walk' at Hollingworth Lake

A well-attended ‘green walk’ was hosted by the Smithy Bridge and Littleborough Save the Greenbelt Group at Hollingworth Lake on Sunday (5 September).

The walk was held to raise awareness of the Places for Everyone plans – the successor to the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework – which proposes development on local greenbelt land and is currently out for consultation.
 

Read more: Public consultation on GMSF successor launchesPublished: 09 August 2021

Under the plans, 300 new homes and a primary school are proposed for land off Hollingworth Road (JPA22), adjacent to the former Akzo Nobel site, whilst a further 200 homes and a residential relief road have been suggested near Smithy Bridge Railway Station (JPA24).

A spokesperson for the Smithy Bridge and Littleborough Save the Greenbelt Group said: “With the 3 October deadline looming for the Places for Everyone Consultation, we wanted to ensure people knew they had a chance to voice any issues against the soundness of the plan, such as the lack of infrastructure, pollution and traffic issues, and a possible increased risk of flooding, amongst others.

“The Smithy Bridge and Littleborough Save the Greenbelt Group are not opposed to building houses for those that need them, but the group supports a brownfield-first policy, situated in areas where the infrastructure will support such builds.”

 

 

This is the third event held by the group that has taken place around the lake, appropriately nicknamed the 'jewel in the crown'.
 

Read more: Hands around our lake, and hands off our greenbelt!Published: 11 March 2019

Funds raised on the day will go towards instructing planning lawyers to help challenge the soundness of Places for Everyone.

Two further events are planned to help raise more funds, both held at the rowing club: a coffee afternoon on Saturday 18 September at 1pm, and a quiz night on Saturday 13 November at 7pm.

All information for upcoming events is available on the group's Facebook page.

Places for Everyone is currently out for an eight-week consultation until 3 October. The consultation is the final stage in the preparation of the plan, which proposes to build 165,000 new homes – down from the 227,000 in the 2016 GMSF draft, and with a 60% reduction in green belt development compared to the first version.

Of these homes, 50,000 will be classed as affordable housing, with 30,000 available for social rent. 

More than 55 million sq ft of office, industrial and warehousing space is also proposed across the nine boroughs.

People taking part in the consultation are able to view the proposed development sites and read supporting documents online.

Hard copies are available to view at the libraries in the borough that are currently open - click here for locations and opening times.

To take part in the consultation, go to www.gmconsult.org.

Reporting: Rochdale Online

Additional reporting: Niall Griffiths, Local Democracy Reporting Service