Councillors and residents previously raised concerns over loss of greenbelt land
The housing minister has formally denied Oldham Council’s bid to back out of a housing project set to deliver 11,500 homes on brownfield and greenbelt land.
In a letter to the council, Matthew Pennycook wrote there is “no justification” to approve the withdrawal, in response to a letter from the borough to the secretary of state for housing, Angela Rayner, seeking permission to back out without providing an explanation.
In February this year, a cross-party group of councillors narrowly voted for the revocation of the Places for Everyone (PfE) scheme, a joint development plan of nine districts within the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) adopted in March 2024. Stockport chose not to sign on to the project.
The plans garnered controversy among councillors and residents due to its use of greenbelt land, including sites at Beal Valley, Bottom Field Farm and Broadbent Moss.
In his letter, Pennycook explained: “The government has been clear in its commitment to the plan-led system. Local plans provide the stability and certainty that communities, businesses, and developers want to see the planning system deliver.
“They are a key tool for encouraging and directing investment in local areas, helping to secure the housing, jobs, and infrastructure that places need. Authorities that fail to maintain an up-to-date plan are failing their communities.”
He warned that the government “will use the full range of ministerial intervention powers at our disposal” if local authorities fail to deliver their local plans “ as quickly as possible” and in line with their statuatory duties.
He also described PfE is ”an example of authorities doing the right thing.”
However, he also said that the council could provide further reasons to justify revocation following the decision.
The PfE framework aims to see 170,000 homes across the region built by 2039 and forms part of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) for wider regeneration across all ten local authority areas.
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