Planning inspectors will not change how they assess Greater Manchester’s controversial development masterplan, despite signs the government is set to scrap housing targets. Places for Everyone - which includes plans to build 165,000 homes across Greater Manchester over the next 15 years - is currently undergoing a public examination on behalf of the secretary of state.
Previously dubbed the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF), the strategy has been repeatedly revised following a huge backlash over loss of green belt land - and remains deeply contentious among some communities. Green belt campaigners were heartened by housing secretary Michael Gove’s recent statement signalling he intended to make further changes to the planning system such as ‘advisory’, not mandatory, housing targets and more ‘community control’ over decisions.
But during an examination session on Tuesday, planning inspector Louise Gibbons said this would not impact how the plan was scrutinised for legal ‘soundness’. “At this point in examining Places for Everyone we will continue to apply national policy as it currently stand,” she told the hearing.
READ MORE : Examination of the controversial Places for Everyone masterplan begins
