Govt knocks back Oldham’s bid to leave PfE
The local authority’s request to withdraw from Greater Manchester’s Places for Everyone spatial framework has been stymied by housing minister Matthew Pennycook.
In a communication to Cllr Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council, the minister of state for housing and planning Matthew Pennycook responded to the request made in February to pull out of the GM joint development plan – a decision that followed a narrow vote at an extraordinary meeting of the council.
In the face of officer advice, 31 councillors had voted to leave, and 28 to remain in PfE.
Pennycook said in his letter: “On the basis of the information you have provided, I have determined not to use the Secretary of State’s discretionary powers to approve your requested revocation of Oldham’s sections of PfE.
“The government has been clear in its commitment to the plan-led system. Local plans provide the stability and certainty that communities, businesses, and developers want to see the planning system deliver. They are a key tool for encouraging and directing investment in local areas, helping to secure the housing, jobs, and infrastructure that places need. Authorities that fail to maintain an up-to-date plan are failing their communities.
“That is why we want to see universal local plan coverage as quickly as possible, why the government expects local authorities to do everything in their power to ensure that up-to-date plans are in place in line with their statutory duties, and why we will use the full range of ministerial intervention powers at our disposal if that does not happen.”
Had Oldham been able to convince Pennycook and Secretary of State Angela Rayner of its case, it would have joined Stockport in moving outside of the PfE framework.
With an under-supply of housing, Stockport has found itself in an unenviable position in recent months, becoming effectively defenceless when it comes to protecting Green Belt sites across the borough.
Feedback on Place’s comments section following Oldham’s February decision was close to united in its disbelief both that the council would take the decision it had, and that a government so eager to push development would allow it to proceed.
The motion to leave PfE had been put forward by Cllr Howard Sykes, leader of the council’s Lib Dem group.
Pennycook’s letter to Cllr Shah continued: “PfE is an example of authorities doing the right thing – adopting a robust local plan only a year ago, which reflects strong cooperation between authorities across the plan area, including cross-boundary allocations such as the Stakehill site that Oldham shares with a neighbouring authority.
“Taking all of the above into account, and given that your letter does not set out a case for revocation, I see no justification to approve your request. Following this decision, the Council may wish to provide further reasons and justification for revocation.
“I note however that Oldham has recently been awarded funding to support with delivery of a Part 2 plan for the area, and I assume this will now become your primary focus.”
Being under no overall control, Oldham Council is currently led by a Labour minority administration.
Responding to the government verdict, Cllr Elaine Taylor, deputy leader & cabinet member for decent homes at Oldham Council – and a fervent speaker in favour of PfE at February’s meeting – told Place North West: “We’re grateful the government have seen through the reckless attempts made by the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives to put our greenbelt at risk.
“As far as the administration is concerned this we agree with the government that this is the right decision for Oldham, we’ve already seen the chaos caused in nearby Stockport by the Liberal Democrats playing silly political games with an issue that’s too important for it.
“Places for Everyone is a brownfield first plan that protects 97.5% of greenbelt in Oldham and will deliver much needed homes for our residents, it’s our job now to make sure we deliver.”
- This story was updated at 11.40am on 09/04/2025 with the response from Oldham’s Labour office
This now gives the Lib Dems in Oldham the excuse they need to blame central government. The Lib Dems love playing politics rather than doing the right thing for the people they represent. Stockport is a perfect example of this strategy in action which has resulted in the greenbelt in Stockport being put at greater risk of development.
By Anonymous
As expected. What a bunch of clowns.
By Dave
You’d have to have a heart of stone not to laugh
By Places for Everyone Enjoyer
How dare the government trample all over Oldham’s right to do the wrong thing.
By Anonymous
What we need is good affordable housing, and social housing. Anything built on greenbelt prime land will be neither. And after a few years any so called affordable in those areas will fetch the higher prices. The people who are on waiting lists for social housing are people who can not earn enough to afford to buy. Lets be realistic this is all about profit, after all this site supports the builders not people who need housing.
By Houses for everyone
The Oldham 31 = a bunch of jokers who do know what would have happened to their Borough if they had succeeded. They only have to look at what is happening in Stockport.
By Anonymous
The LibDems have got what they really wanted. Copy for their leaflets, nothing more. They’re already calling it a ‘betrayal of democracy’. They know all the things they claimed were lacking will be covered by the Part 2 local plan.
By Anonymous
I didn’t see this coming at all.
By Nostradamus
Can someone tell me why Karen from down the road should get a say on development of the size and scale in pfe anyway? This kind of issue is beyond local councilors.
Tbh I’m not even sure greenbelt is a good idea, just create stronger urban centres instead.
By allergic to squirrels