Greater Manchester Spatial Framework
This pack has been prepared ahead of the debate to be held in Westminster Hall on Wednesday 14 December 2016 at 4.30pm on the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework. The debate will be opened by William Wragg MP.
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), established in 2011, [1] is made up of the ten Greater Manchester councils and an interim Mayor ahead of elections for the Mayor to be held in May 2017.[2]
The ten councils are: Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan.
For further information see Library briefing papers, Combined Authorities, 23 November 2016 and Devolution to Local Government in England, 23 November 2016.
The Greater Manchester Spatial FrameworkThe GMCA is in the process of producing a “Greater Manchester Spatial Framework” (GMSF), which will be a joint plan to manage the supply of land for jobs and new homes across Greater Manchester, up to the year 2035. The idea is that the GMSF will be the overarching development plan within which Greater Manchester’s ten local planning authorities will be able to identify more detailed sites for jobs and homes in their own area. As such, the GMSF will not cover everything that a local plan would cover and individual districts will continue to produce their own local plans.[3] The “key milestones” and timetable for the GMSF, as proposed by the GMCA is as follows:
- Consultation on an initial GMSF evidence base - November 2014 (consultation closed);
- Consultation on vision and draft strategic options - November 2015 to January 2016 (responses to consultation now published);
- Call for Sites (initial responses now published);
- Draft GMSF – for consultation from 31 October to 23 December 2016;
- Publication of the GMSF in 2017; and
- Submission, examination and adoption of the GMSF in 2018.[4]
The draft Greater Manchester Combined Authority (Functions and Amendment) Order 2016 (hereafter the draft Order) and its accompanying draft explanatory memorandum will confer on the GMCA, to be exercisable by the Mayor, a duty to prepare a spatial development strategy.[5] The draft GMSF could be used as the basis for this, or, following the election of the Mayor it could be agreed that a new or revised document be produced. The draft Order was laid before Parliament on 21 November 2016, but has not yet been approved.
Housing and green belt land within the GMSFThe draft GMSF proposes that 227,200 net additional dwellings will be needed in the period up to 2035, some of which it suggests should be built on 4,900 hectares of Greater Manchester's green belt. The table below adapted from table 8.1 of the draft GMSF sets out the required distribution of these additional houses across Greater Manchester, together with a broad indication of the balance of houses and apartments:
District
Total Requirement (number of dwellings)
Average Annual Requirement (average number of dwellings / year)
Houses (%)
Apartments (%)
Bolton
16,800
840
85
15
Bury
12,500
625
85
15
Manchester
55,300
2,765
15
85
Oldham
13,700
685
85
15
Rochdale
15,500
775
90
10
Salford
34,900
1,745
30
70
Stockport
19,300
965
75
25
Tameside
13,600
680
80
20
Trafford
23,100
1,155
60
40
Wigan
22,500
1,125
90
10
Total for GM
227,200
11,360
55-60
40-45
The green belt in Greater Manchester equates to 47 per cent of the total land area of Greater Manchester. The proposals in the draft GMSF would reduce this coverage of green belt land to 43 per cent.[6] The “reasoned justification” provided for this in the draft GMSF is as follows:
- The scale of development that needs to be accommodated within Greater Manchester over the next two decades means that some changes to the green belt boundaries within Greater Manchester are necessary, but these have been minimised as far as possible, having regard in particular to the need to promote sustainable patterns of development. This will result in a net reduction in the total area of designated green belt of 4,900 hectares (8.2%), ensuring that nearly 43% of Greater Manchester will be green belt.
- 16.0.2 As such, the Green Belt makes up a considerable proportion of Greater Manchester, and it is therefore vital that its various parts play a beneficial role that supports the environmental, social and economic well being of the sub-region’s residents. The Greater Manchester Mayor and local authorities will plan, in particular, for the enhancement of its green infrastructure functions, such as improved public access and habitat restoration, helping to deliver environmental and social benefits for the residents of Greater Manchester and providing the high quality green spaces that will support economic growth.[7]
Specialist publication Planning has reported that Leigh MP and Labour Mayoral candidate Andy Burnham has already expressed concerns about the amount of green belt land that the GMSF earmarks for release.[8] The article notes that while the new Mayor would need to agree to the plan for it to be adopted, he/she would need to secure the agreement of the GMCA councils if they wanted to amend it.[9]
Another article in the Manchester Evening News reports the views of each MP in the Greater Manchester region on the proposals, “From 'crucial' to 'ridiculous' - what MPs think of Greater Manchester's radical expansion plans”, 31 October 2016.
An article from law firm Pinsent Masons highlights the view of their planning expert that the draft GMSF is “not ambitious enough” in terms of identifying enough land for new jobs and homes, stating that the numbers are lower than those that have been achieved by Greater Manchester in “recent years”.[10]
Further informationFor further information on housing and green belt policy see Library briefing papers:
- Green Belt, 5 January 2016;
- Planning for Housing, 25 May 2016; and
- Housing supply for local authorities (England), 24 November 2016, an interactive Excel tool to view and compare local-level housing information, including on affordable housing levels.
[1] As established by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Order 2011
[2] The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (Election of Mayor with Police and Crime Commissioner Functions Order 2016), made on 29 March 2016, established the position of elected Mayor of the Combined Authority, with the first election on 4 May 2017 and the elected Mayor taking office, including taking over the functions of the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner, on 8 May 2017
[3] GMCA, Greater Manchester Spatial Framework website [on 7 December 2016]
[4] GMCA, Greater Manchester Spatial Framework website [on 7 December 2016]
[5] The draft Greater Manchester Combined Authority (Functions and Amendment) Order 2016 and its accompanying draft explanatory memorandum
[6] GMCA, draft Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, p76
[7] GMCA, draft Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, p76
[8] “What obstacles does the city-regional plan for Manchester face?” Planning, 4 November 2016 [subscription required]
[9] Ibid
[10] Out-law.com “Greater Manchester to consider draft 'Spatial Framework' planning strategy this week” 26 October 2016