Leader of Stockport Labour and Stockport Council, Cllr Alex Ganotis has issued a joint statement with other GM Leaders and Mayor Andy Burnham, over ‘moving goalposts’ on targets which underpin the Greater Manchester Strategic Framework (GMSF) plans, and calling for urgent clarity on the figures.
In the joint statement, GM Leaders and Greater Manchester’s Mayor said:
“Right now the Government is moving the goalposts and making this process more difficult. We have made real progress towards agreeing a rewritten Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, but this uncertainty around the housing figures is delaying our final decisions and compromising our ability to get on with strategic planning in Greater Manchester.
“The Government methodology that could give us the clarity we need is due to be published after the Conservative Party Conference – but even then, the revised methodology will only be a consultation rather than the finalised formula for assessing local housing need.
“We are clear that the Government must not fiddle the methodology to inflate the housing numbers just to meet its own artificial target.
“We also note that this revised methodology is set to come forward just months after the Government’s last consultation to assess local housing need. This is a far cry from the honest, open, consistent approach that we were promised.
“Greater Manchester needs to know that the Spatial Framework is a plan fit for the future and this can only be the case if we get the clarity we need before the plan is finalised. That is why we have all agreed that we will wait, yet again, for the Government methodology, then move quickly to revise and agree our plan, before taking it out to public consultation.”
Stockport’s Cllr Alex Ganotis added:
“I am pleased the 10 leaders and Mayor have come together in one voice on this issue. The GMSF plan is of great importance to the city region’s jobs, homes, infrastructure and in providing confidence on the long-term protection for our green spaces.
“It is therefore important we get this right, to maximise brownfield space and plan properly for the needs of the population.
“The constantly moving goalposts are hampering our ability to deliver this plan, and therefore holding back our progress as a City region.
The GMSF seeks to plan to build housing, infrastructure and jobs in the right places over the next 20 years according to objectively assessed need. Greater Manchester’s 10 Local Authority Leaders have confirmed that all Councils across GM will have a final say on the finalised draft of the GMSF plans. This must be approved by each and every local council next summer, before the third round of formal consultation.