A call to pull Rochdale green belt sites from the region’s housing masterplan has been rejected after mooted changes to the planning system were dismissed as ‘cynical’ government electioneering. The Conservatives tabled a motion at a full council meeting urging the authority to remove all greenbelt sites from the Places for Everyone (PfE) blueprint in light of Michael Gove’s recent statement signalling his intention to scrap housing targets.
Coun John Taylor told the members it was an ‘opportunity for change’ that the council ‘ought to grasp with two hands’ on behalf of the people of Rochdale. "It’s an opportunity for us to deliver a strategic plan that we can all support as well as localised decision making retained by this council and, most importantly, with the voice of residents included too,” he said.
“If you believe in the principle of brownfield first you should support this motion.” The Tory group leader said the government had ‘listened’ and would now scrap mandatory housing targets, the 20pc ‘buffer zone’ and provide ‘transitional arrangements’ for plans at an advanced stage such as PfE.
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But Labour pushed back on the grounds Mr Gove’s statement changed nothing in terms of policy or legislation - and merely kicked the can down the road to the other side of the next general election. Coun John Blundell, cabinet member for economy and regeneration, said it was ‘outrageous’ that Mr Gove had ‘blatantly called for a two-year review of local plans and development plans given that date would be just after the next general election’.
“It’s the worst of electioneering I have seen for a long time from the Tory Party,” he added.“The delivery of his [Mr Gove’s] message leaves a lot to be desired because it has caused a lot of chaos, it’s caused a lot of misunderstanding and clarified little.
“And that’s because the statement simply announces he is going to consult on what we think we should do - he has done nothing of the like of what Coun Taylor has just read out.” His comments were echoed by Coun Peter Williams who said it was ‘the most cynical piece of political engineering by Michael Gove we have ever seen’.
He said: “It’s not to benefit people in Littleborough, Bamford or anywhere else concerned about their green belt, it’s concerned about Herefordshire, Hampshire and Hertfordshire where the Tory MPs look like they’re going to get a kicking in the next election."
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While moving the Tory motion, Coun Taylor insisted it did not jeopardise the 20,000 jobs and economic benefits of Atom Valley - despite the Rochdale/Bury Northern Gateway site being in the green belt. But as this was not reflected in its wording, Labour councillors raised concern that the key site and linked transport improvements would be lost if the motion were passed.
However Labour did table an amendment stating the council remains ‘open’ to reviewing its green belt sites - but further assurances and far more detail would be needed from the secretary of state. It asks Mr Gove when his plans will come into effect, if he intends to scrap Atom Valley and whether Greater Manchester would be reimbursed for the work on the GMSF/PfE plan.
And it also seeks assurances that alternative options would adhere to the same timeline - PfE already being eight years in the making - and deliver the same economic and housing benefits. This was supported by the Conservative group, albeit reluctantly - Coun Taylor commenting that he felt it was a ‘missed opportunity’ and the council was ‘shuffling forward’ rather than taking a huge stride.
The Lib Dems also supported the amendment - despite expressing some reservations - while Middleton Independents Party voted against. Rochdale council met at Number One Riverside on Wednesday night (December 14).
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