The Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) has again been delayed. The latest cause is mainly that new official population estimates show slightly slower growth than previously expected. The new date for the report to be published is October this year.

What is most interesting about this is that even a relatively small reduction in demand might mean much lower demand to release green belt. The first draft of the GMSF showed a need for almost 20,000 new homes across Stockport half of which might be met without using the greenbelt.

Cllr Jon Twigge commented, “If the overall reduction was just one in six then given the same total from brownfield sites this would equate to one in three previously earmarked greenbelt homes no longer being needed. In fact, given lower overall requirement and Manchester City being keen to build new apartments in large numbers there might be scope to adjust Stockport’s allocation even lower – perhaps even saving High Lane from substantial building.”

Stockport Liberal Democrats will be asking for more details on these changes as soon as possible.