To consider the attached report from the Cabinet Member for A Thriving Economy / Director of Economy

To consider the attached report from the Cabinet Member for A Thriving Economy / Director of Economy

Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Economy which advised that The Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) is a joint Development Plan Document.  Following consultation on the two previous drafts in 2016 and 2019, Greater Manchester’s Plan for Homes, Jobs and the Environment (the GMSF) has now progressed to the GMSF: Publication Draft 2020 (GMSF 2020). 

The GMSF 2020 publication version of the plan is the version that each of the Greater Manchester districts believe should be submitted to the Government for Examination.

This report sets out background information that gives an overview of what the GMSF 2020 is and why it is being produced. It gives an overview of what the GMSF 2020 is planning for across Greater Manchester and highlights the key proposals for housing, employment and infrastructure in Rochdale and the justification for the approach taken. It also describes the key benefits that the GMSF 2020 will bring to Rochdale and examines the implications of Covid-19 and the recently released Planning White Paper before setting out when and how consultation on the GMSF 2020 will take place.

Member approval was sought to make the GMSF 2020 available for comment over an 8-week period and submit the GMSF 2020 for examination to the secretary of state as per the detailed recommendations below. 

In considering the submitted report, Cabinet were advised of an amended recommendation in relation to the commencement of the proposed consultation period, following a recent decision of Stockport Council.

Alternatives considered:

Preparing our own up to date local plan but this would make addressing strategic cross boundary issues more difficult and would exclude Rochdale from this GM plan for strategic growth.  

Resolved:

1.    That Council be recommended to:

a)    approve the GMSF: Publication Draft 2020, including strategic site allocations and green belt boundary amendments, and reference to the potential use of compulsory purchase powers to assist with site assembly, 2.2 and the supporting background documents, for publication pursuant to Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 for a period of representations starting on a date to be agreed by the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and Cabinet Member for A Thriving Economy;

b)    approve the GMSF: Publication Draft 2020 for submission to the Secretary of State for examination following the period for representations;

c)    Delegate to the Director of Economy authority to approve the relevant Statement of Common Ground(s) required pursuant to the National Planning Policy Framework 2019;

d)    Delegate authority to the Lead Chief Executive, Housing, Homelessness and Infrastructure, in consultation with the Portfolio Leader for Housing, Homelessness and Infrastructure to make minor or non-material amendments to the GMSF: Publication Draft 2020 and background documents prior to their publication.

Reasons for the decision:

The GMSF 2020 is a statutory plan and requires approvals from Cabinet and Full Council for the requisite stage. 

To consider the attached report from the Cabinet Member for A Thriving Economy / Director of Economy

Consideration was given to a report of the Cabinet Member for A Thriving Economy / Director of Economy setting out proposals for public consultation Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF). 

The Cabinet Member for A Thriving Economy set out some background information providing an overview of what the GMSF 2020 is and why it was being produced as well as highlighting the key proposals for housing, employment and infrastructure in Rochdale and the justification for the approach taken.  Members were advised of the key benefits that the GMSF 2020 would bring to Rochdale.

Greater Manchester local authorities had worked collaboratively on the preparation of the Spatial Framework.  This document will provide a policy framework to guide development across the City Region up to 2037.  It will also provide a context for the preparation by individual authorities of updated Local Plans.  Previous versions of the GMSF had been consulted on resulting in amendments. 

Consultation will take place via a number of mechanisms including online or via libraries within the borough.  This consultation will be open for eight weeks.

The Cabinet Member for A Thriving Economy addressed key points raised by Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

·         Flooding mitigation for proposed sites, specifically issues previously faced in Littleborough.

·         What planning has been undertaken to address a lack of primary school places in the area, as well as GP places available, particularly in relation to new housing sites. 

·         Increase of congestion in town and village centres across the borough.

·         Impact on the ability for Greater Manchester to meet emissions targets.

·         The amount of Green Belt that would be lost within the borough.

·         The accessibility, effectiveness and viability of consultation during a pandemic.

·         Alternatives to providing opportunities for creating jobs and improving economic prospects within the borough.

·         Impact on existing residents of building new homes on sites of local importance.

·         Impact of the forthcoming Planning White Paper and its impact on the GMSF.

·         The cost of developing on existing brownfield sites.

·         Benefits of having a local plan as opposed to a regional plan.

·         How the number of houses allocated to each site had been formulated.

Resolved

That the report be noted.