Manchester publishes Places for Everyone plan

Leaders in Greater Manchester have unveiled an ambitious vision for new homes, enhanced natural assets and revitalised town centres.

The Places for Everyone plan of nine Greater Manchester districts – a long-term plan for jobs, new homes, and sustainable growth – has been published.

The plan will determine the kind of development that takes place across the city-region, maximising the use of brownfield land and urban spaces while protecting green belt land from the risk of unplanned development. It will also ensure all new developments are sustainably integrated into Greater Manchester’s transport network or joined by new infrastructure.

Amongst the bold initiatives being rolled out across the city-region are: a Green Spaces Fund to help every community across the city-region improve and enhance local pocket parks and public green spaces; a plan to deliver 30,000 zero-carbon homes for social rent; and a report from its recent Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) pilot with Natural England. The pilot sets out the priorities and opportunities to tackle the biodiversity emergency and enhance the natural environment, both for nature and for wider benefits to our environment, economy and society. It also sets out the practical actions to needed to deliver on this.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “Greater Manchester is setting out a clear and ambitious vision for new homes, enhanced green spaces and revitalised town centres. Linked to our plans for a zero-carbon future and good jobs and growth, this vision represents a major milestone as our city-region maps out its recovery from the pandemic.

“If we want to build back from the pandemic in a way that brings everyone with us and strikes at the root of inequality, we need a plan that strengthens our economy and our society against future challenges, and puts us in the best position to take advantage of new opportunities.

“We all share the same priorities: we want to see better homes, better jobs, and better transport for everyone in our city-region. Everything we do is driven by that vision, and whether through Places for Everyone or other projects like the Homelessness Prevention Strategy and our plans for a world-class integrated transport network, we will continue to work together right across Greater Manchester to create a place where we can all succeed.”