Have your say on the protection of key natural habitats in and around Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester residents and businesses can now have their say on two important consultations, helping to protect some of the most important habitat sites in and around Greater Manchester. Earlier this year the Places for Everyone plan was adopted by Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Tameside, Trafford, and Wigan.
Places for Everyone is a comprehensive joint plan which identifies areas for new homes, jobs and infrastructure in the nine boroughs, while protecting environmental assets and guarding against the risk of unplanned development.
To support the Places for Everyone plan, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), in partnership with the nine local authorities, is now seeking views on two documents that will provide developers with clear advice and guidance on development proposals to ensure the two European-designated habitat sites are protected.
The consultations will run for six weeks until Thursday 12 December. For more information and to have your say, visit www.gmconsult.org
South Pennine Moors
Much of the moorland landscape on the edge of Greater Manchester is an internationally important habitat for birds. This moorland habitat supports populations of birds including merlins, golden plovers and short-eared owls, and a range of other species. The South Pennine Moors contains both a European Special Area of Conservation and two Special Protection Areas.
The GMCA wants to ensure new homes and businesses closest to the South Pennine Moors, in the boroughs of Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside, have the right safeguards in place to avoid harm to these internationally important habitats.
Holcroft Moss
The lowland landscape between Greater Manchester and Merseyside covers areas of internationally important peat bog habitats that have developed over thousands of years. As well as being important habitats for wildlife, peatlands can store carbon and help with flood risk management.
Much of this lowland bog habitat has been degraded by centuries of farming and peat cutting. Despite this, some areas of bog have the potential to be restored to active, functioning peat bogs – including the Holcroft Moss site in Warrington, which is also designated as a European Special Area of Conservation
Holcroft Moss is next to the M62 motorway, and nitrogen emissions from vehicles could slow the restoration of the peat bog habitat. The nine Places for Everyone local authorities, together with Warrington Borough Council, are proposing a package of restoration measures to improve the resilience of the peat habitat to air pollution.
Paul Dennett, City Mayor of Salford and Greater Manchester Lead for Places for Everyone, said:
“Places for Everyone is our plan to improve employment opportunities for our communities, deliver the homes that Greater Manchester needs, revitalise our town centres, and rejuvenate our green spaces. It’s also our best defence against costly unplanned development.
“These documents will help us to ensure that, through Places for Everyone, the right safeguards are in place to protect our natural environment, including the most important habitats in and around the city region.
“This is your chance to get involved and help shape the future of sustainable development in Greater Manchester.”
For more information about the Supplementary Planning Documents that relate to Holcroft Moss and the South Pennine Moors, visit the GMCA website: Joint Supplementary Planning Documents - Greater Manchester Combined Authority
For more information about the Places for Everyone plan, visit the GMCA website: Places For Everyone - Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
Article Published: 01/11/2024 16:32 PM