Plans to delay consultation on controversial Greater Manchester Spatial Framework welcomed by Bury Council leaders

The latest draft of the spatial framework, the region's masterplan to meet housing and employment needs over the next 20 years, was due to be published next month.

However, after new official Government population figures were published, predicting lower population growth in Greater Manchester than originally forecast, consultation has been put back.

New figures relating to the housing numbers required to meet demands in Greater Manchester are now set to come out in September.

Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, Bury Council’s cabinet member for finance and housing, said: “The spatial framework is a crucial document in ensuring that we have the right number of homes and jobs we need for generations to come.

"This is why it’s vital that the plan is based on the most up-to-date figures.

“Given that the population forecasts have now changed, it’s clear that much more work needs to be done, and I welcome the decision to delay publication and public consultation on the framework until October, after the Government’s housing figures are published in September.”

Cllr O’Brien also highlighted concerns about the potential threat to Green Belt land posed by building projects to meet housing demands under the GMSF, adding that the council would prioritise repurposing brownfield sites.

He said: “There have been strong protests in Bury and across Greater Manchester about the possibilities of losing large parts of our local Green Belt.

"Although no guarantees can be given, especially when we’re waiting for Government housing figures and projections, I think it is likely that less Green Belt land will have be released in Bury to meet housing needs than originally envisioned.

“Whatever the new figures are, we will continue with our ‘brownfield first’ policy of prioritising building on land which has previously been developed, such as our latest plans for the former East Lancs Paper Mill site in Radcliffe.”