Leaders back Greater Manchester’s Spatial Framework

The Greater Manchester Spatial Framework has been backed by all of the city region’s 10 local authority leaders. The spatial framework, which outlines plans for 180,000 homes to be built across Greater Manchester, will be put before a public consultation planned for December 2020. The framework dropped its housing provision targets from the original document the GMCA put together in 2016, which aimed for the delivery of 227,000 homes. It followed concerns raised by local councillors and green belt campaigners about protecting green belt space in the region. Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said the GMCA has been “listening very closely to what communities have said” since 2016 but now wants to “bring this matter to a conclusion” with the agreement of the Spatial Framework. He said: “We are at a point now where we have to move forward, and there also comes a point where you have to say now that the green belt is better protected by proceeding, rather than continuing to debate these issues.” To send feedback, e-mail lucy.alderson@egi.co.uk or tweet @LucyAJourno or @estatesgazette Photo © James White