The Government’s solution to the housing problem is to demand that every part of the country builds lots more houses. They’ve set targets that have to be met.

Councils have two choices: find places for the houses to be built, or let developers build wherever they want. Saying “no more houses” isn’t an option open to councils under the current Government’s policy.

More houses mean more cars, more journeys, more schools and more medical centres so councils also need to sort that out.

In the next few weeks, the ten Greater Manchester councils will be launching the “Spatial Framework” for the first consultation. The aim of the Spatial Framework is to say what should go where. Where should we build houses, offices and light industrial units. What infrastructure (roads etc.) will be needed to support it.

This is a really important question for our area.

The Liberal Democrats believe that everything should be done to make it possible to develop brownfield sites first (those are the previously developed sites, mostly in towns). We will fight to protect our green spaces.

But early indications are that, even if all those brownfield sites can be developed, it might still be necessary to do some building on green fields and the greenbelt if the Conservative targets are to be met.

We’ll keep you informed as work on this moves forward in Stockport.

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