Greater Manchester Spatial Framework 2020 (Archive)

• October 23 2020 - Manchester's Plan for Homes, Jobs and the Environment made available for public to view
• October 30 2020 - Plan to be presented to all 10 Greater Manchester council leaders
• November 2020 -Councillors from all 10 Greater Manchester local authorities to be asked to consider and approve the plan
• December 1 2020 to January 26 2021 - Public consultation
• 2021 - Plan prepared for submission to Government
• 2021 -Public examination and approval by the Secretary of State
• 2022 - Greater Manchester Spatial Framework adopted

*All dates subject to change

There have been two previous consultations on the GMSF, one in 2016 and one in 2019. 

The first draft of the GMSF (2016) saw more than 27,000 residents in Greater Manchester provide feedback, and the plans underwent significant review, including reducing Green Belt impact.

The second consultation took place in 2019. More than 17,500 people, businesses and community organisations responded, and more than 67,000 comments were submitted.

More information about the 2016 draft GMSF and consultation

More information about the 2019 draft GMSF and consultation

The final stage of consultation will run from December 1 2020 for 8 weeks, ending on January 26 2021. However, the plan and evidence base is available to view now, meaning people will have more than 12 weeks to view and familiarise themselves with the content before submitting responses. 

We are now at the 'Publication Stage' of this plan. It is the final stage of consultation before the plan goes to the Secretary of State who will then appoint an independent inspector or inspectors to examine the plan. 

The Publication Plan is the plan that the 10 local authorities consider to be the plan they intend to submit to the Secretary of State for examination. This is a formal stage of consultation and at this stage of consultation we are asking you whether you think the GMSF meets the 'tests of soundness'. 

The term 'sound' is used to describe a Local Plan that has been prepared in accordance with what Government expects of local planning authorities.

The tests of soundness will be explained in the consultation and you can also find more information about these in the FAQs. 

The Government requires every local authority to produce plans that identify enough land to meet local housing and employment needs. It has given local authorities a deadline of December 2023 to have a local plan in place. The GMSF will help each local authority in Greater Manchester to meet this deadline. 

Since the last consultation 2019, Covid-19 has had a major impact on the way people live and work over the shorter term with a high degree of uncertainty over its impact in the long term. In response the Government has been very clear that we need to positively plan for recovery. The Prime Minister made his Build, Build, Build announcement at the end of June 2020 setting a context for England as we recover from Covid-19 

The Chancellor’s Statement at the beginning of July sought to kick-start the UK’s economic recovery. A three point Plan for Jobs was unveiled to support, protect and create jobs, with total fiscal support amounting to £30 billion.  Whilst the arrival of Covid-19 was not anticipated and its impact is very significant, our approach needs to be flexible to address unpredictable challenges that will arise over the course of any long-term strategy.

The approach to the delivery and implementation of our long term strategies and plans will need to recognise the potential for change that Covid-19 has and continues to create, and to maintain a level of flexibility to adapt while still providing a robust foundation on which to build and grow Greater Manchester.

Government has also been very clear that the pandemic is not a reason to pause plan preparation.