Govt signs off Greater Manchester’s Places for Everyone

The examination of the spatial framework for nine of the 10 local authorities in the city region has completed. Next, each of the councils will need to vote to adopt the strategy at full council meetings – a process that is anticipated to conclude by 20 March.

Places for Everyone provides a vision for development in Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Tameside, Trafford, and Wigan from now until 2039. It allocates sites for housing, commercial, and industrial uses as well as the release of approximately 5,500 acres of Green Belt – a reduction of 4.1%.

• See all the Places for Everyone documentation

Places for Everyone has been in the works since August 2014. Back then it was known as the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework and included all 10 local authorities. Stockport controversially pulled out of the document in 2020, causing a rework of the strategy. The result was Places for Everyone.

The Planning Inspectorate conducted a public examination of the framework from November 2022 until July last year. Modifications were suggested in August by the inspectors – these then underwent public consultation.

On Valentine’s Day, the inspectors sent a letter formally concluding their investigation, noting that with the approved modifications Places for Everyone is sound and legally compliant. Read their full letter.

Jane Healey Brown, planning and housing commissioner at Greater Manchester Combined Authority and director at Arup, worked closely on crafting the framework. Arup also led the creation of Places For Everyone’s integrated sustainability assessment.

Reflecting on the inspectors’ decision, Healey Brown said: “Congratulations to everyone who contributed over many years to get this plan for Greater Manchester. The vision and direction will provide for the investment and development the city needs for a prosperous future…

“I hope this inspires other combined authorities and local authorities to press ahead with joint strategic plans,” she said. “Positive planning, positive futures.”

When news broke of the inspectors’ approval, the reaction from the property industry was largely positive – although a few were more cautious in their praise.

Simon Maddox, partner in JMW’s real estate commercial team, was among them. He said: “On the face of it Places for Everyone outlines a roadmap for future development for the years ahead, which should hopefully promote uniformity across the city regions.

“Obviously there is the inevitable Green Belt impact which will no doubt be the subject of concern and debate going forward; however, hopefully, the potential upside of sustainable and cohesive growth (with the increase in homes and jobs that will result) can mean that the positives outweigh some of the negative impact which may arise from the resultant challenges and issues.”

Jeremy Hinds, director at Savills, acknowledged that there may be squabbles over the allocations for employment and housing land – but for him, the real victory for Places for Everyone is larger than the individual numbers.

“The really big picture is that for the first time, all but one of the Greater Manchester councils have come together and agreed a vision for the region as a whole,” he said. “That fact should be celebrated. The fact that there may be nuances and differences – absolutely fine, but the real celebration is the coming together of a vision for the city as a region.”