Following yesterday’s news release by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Mayor Andy Burnham regarding possible further delays to the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) due to uncertainty about the formula Government is to use to set housing growth targets, Stockport Liberal Democrats agree that the government need to get their act together.
Cllr Lisa Smart, Chair of the Greater Manchester Housing, Planning and Environment Scrutiny Committee and Deputy Leader of Stockport’s Liberal Democrat Group, said: “We agree with Andy Burnham that the Government’s handling of setting housing targets is shambolic. Version two of the GM Spatial Framework proposal was due to be made public for consultation some months ago but it was initially delayed when the latest national population projections were released and it is being delayed again waiting for the Conservative Party to get their act together in Westminster. Residents deserve to know where the thousands of new homes are going to go.”
In the same news release, the GMCA announced that there would be a vote on the GMSF proposals in each of the 10 participating councils, despite the requirement for this being removed following a technical change to the process.
Cllr Mark Hunter, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Stockport Council, said: “We are pleased to see the GMCA agrees with Liberal Democrats that it is vital each council retains a vote on the final proposals. We would prefer to see bottom up plans developed by local communities to deliver the housing those communities need. The Conservative government’s rules will impose targets that will see unprecedented levels of development in certain areas.”
