Government white paper adds weight to case against GM Spatial Framework

 

  • Save our GreenbeltNew housing targets proposed for later this year, but GMSF still working on old numbers
  • Despite warm words from ministers, white paper puts our greenbelt under even more threat
  • No measures proposed to make it easier to build on brownfield sites

Stockport’s Lib Dem leader Cllr Iain Roberts has again called for the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) to be scrapped after the publication of a Government housing white paper made clear even more pressure would be put on Greater Manchester to build in the greenbelt.

“Despite warm words from ministers, this white paper means more building on the greenbelt, not less,” said Iain. “The Government is telling councils to build more houses, but isn’t giving them any help to build more on brownfield sites. As councils are currently saying that they’re building as much as they can on brownfield sites, that leaves only one alternative – build more on the greenbelt.”

The Liberal Democrats are calling for Stockport to withdraw from the GMSF, and calling on the Government to do more to help councils build on brownfield sites.

“The white paper, along with proposed mayoral powers, have already made the GMSF obsolete,” said Cllr Lisa Smart, who opposes plans to build 4,000 homes on green belt around High Lane.

“They are developing a plan based on numbers which we now know one hundred percent for sure will be wrong before the plan is finalised. Now is the time to stop and look again at our options.”

“You can walk through any town in Greater Manchester and find building after building that’s empty, under-used, in poor condition or simply not fit for purpose. We can do better,” said Cllr Mark Hunter, who’s leading the fight against greenbelt development in Bramhall, Cheadle Hulme and Heald Green.

“We need the Government to give us the powers and funding to sort out those sites and bring them back into use. We need the powers to force developers to build on brownfield sites first and only go into the greenbelt when there is genuinely no other option. This Conservative government white paper completely fails to deliver.”

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