PEOPLE will have their say on plans to build 12,000 homes in Bury in the coming weeks.

That is according to Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), the body representing all 10 of the county’s councils, including Bury Council, after a key meeting last week.

Representatives of those authorities met to discuss the Spatial Framework plan which, as the Bury Times reported in August, could see 70 major housing projects being built across the borough before 2035.

Many of the sites are in Elton, Ainsworth, Starling, Simister, Radcliffe and Ramsbottom and 26 of the sites are on greenbelt land.

It had been hoped that the consultation could start next week, but it is understood council leaders wanted to confirm final details at the next GMCA board meeting on October 28 before the consultation gets under way.

GMCA lead officer for planning and housing Eamonn Boylan said: “It has always been our intention to start a public consultation on a draft framework in October.

“The planning teams working on the draft framework now have a couple of weeks to ensure that the technical elements of the draft framework are correct when presented to the board meeting where we are seeking approval for public consultation to commence for a period of eight weeks.”

GMCA have been keen to reassure people who are concerned about the proposals — some of which are for 2,000 homes in a single location — that any project that gets the green light will be carefully thought-out, and consider how projects would impact on road networks, schools and GP practices.

A GMCA spokesman said: “The plan is designed to stop ‘uncontrollable development’.

“Over the next 20 years, there is a need to sustainably deliver continued economic growth, creating more jobs and new homes for the people of Greater Manchester.

“For the first time, the 10 local authorities in Greater Manchester are working together to look at the best way to deliver this: To ensure that these homes and jobs are provided in the right places with the transport infrastructure, such as roads, rail and Metrolink, to support the communities.”

The framework will look at green issues and seek to protect the natural environment and wildlife and combat flood risk, said the GMCA.

GMCA planning and housing representative, Cllr Richard Farnell said: “Greater Manchester has a wealth of valuable and important environmental assets.

“This plan identifies these to ensure that these green spaces are protected and treasured for future generations.”