In mid-January, a consultation ended on controversial plans proposed in the so-called Greater Manchester Spatial Framework to set in stone all development in Salford and rest of the region for the next twenty years.
The plans, which were echoed in the Salford Local Plan supported by Salford City Council, allocated to our city 15% of all new housing , or 34,900 properties, which came complete with large scale destruction of the Green Belt, particularly around Irlam and Cadishead, and Boothstown and Worsley.
Irlam and Cadishead was to site 2,250 new homes in what was called a "large-scale, sustainable urban extension", with loss of peat, mossland and over 1,000 acres of Green Belt land. The green areas around Boothstown and Worsley were also set to get hammered by development, with 2,750 houses earmarked for development.*
The plans, although backed by the Council, were slammed by some councillors and Eccles and Worsley South MP Barbara Keeley, who argued "I have serious concerns about the impact these proposals would have on the land, on the health of local residents, on infrastructure and on the environment."**
Indeed, during a subsequent debate on the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework in Parliament, twelve Greater Manchester MPs, out of 14 who turned up, objected to the development of Green Belt land...
Big public meetings were also held, as a group called Planning For Our Future in Irlam and Cadishead, attacked the plans. Now this group will join around two dozen others in converging on Manchester Town Hall this Saturday April 1st for what the group's Darren Goulden explains will be "a massive show of solidarity against the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework and the Salford Local Plan".
This week, the leaders of the ten local councils in Greater Manchester, including Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, will be presented with an update report on the Framework's consultation. They will learn that around 25,000 comments and 'several petitions' were received, 93% of which were concerning site allocations.
Amongst the initial issues identified from responses, are a 'Lack of balance between weight given to jobs and homes and the natural environment'; 'Concern over the robustness of the economic and demographic forecasts - particularly in terms of the impact of Brexit'; that 'Brownfield land/empty homes and shops have been ignored and should be developed first'; and that 'Exceptional circumstances' for release of Green Belt has not been demonstrated'...
There was also `Concern over the environmental impact of Green Belt release'; `Concern over impact of further development on infrastructure (in particular transport and social) perceived to be at or near capacity' and `Concern that this is the first that residents have heard about the plan and the title "spatial framework" is confusing to most people'...
.
Indeed, earlier this year, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), which launched the 'Spatial Framework' and consultation, had to contemplate its own report that the consultation was "bewildering" and didn't "make sense to ordinary people"***
The fact that 25,000 comments were received about the Framework, the majority of which appear to show that most people object to it, demonstrates the passion that so many feel about the Green Belt defying plans.
GMCA states that "A full analysis of the representations is underway. A consultation report will be produced which will identify the issues raised and the proposed response to these, to accompany the next stage of the consultation."
The next stage of the consultation is set to take place in September, for three months. But, with one eye on the Greater Manchester Mayor Election in May, around two dozen groups from all over the region will protest this Saturday to let politicians and planning officers know exactly how local people feel.
Save Greater Manchester's Green Belt Rally
Saturday 1st April 1pm
Albert Square, Manchester
For a full background see previous Salford Star articles...
* Salford Green Belt Attack - click here and click here
** Irlam and Cadishead Community and MP Slam Unacceptable Green Belt Destruction - click here
Consultation On Future Of Salford Didn't Make Sense Admits GMCA - click here