Lib-Dems welcome adjournment on Green Belt homes plan debate

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE

The Oldham Liberal Democrat Group has welcomed the Oldham Council meeting outcome to postpone the decision on whether to approve the controversial plan to build housing on the Green Belt.

The plan, backed by the Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester and Labour Leaders of the Greater Manchester local authorities, would, if adopted in Oldham, mean 11,817 new homes built in the borough by 2037. 

Many hundreds of homes would be built on greenfield sites in Shaw and Crompton represented by Liberal Democrat councillors.

Last week, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, wrote to the Leader of the Council asking for an adjournment after councillors in Salford and Stockport failed to reach their own decisions on the plan. 

Councillor Sykes said: “The Greater Manchester Spatial Framework will deliver tens of thousands of new homes across the whole of the city region. 

"Each one of the ten authorities in Greater Manchester is expected to share the burden. 

"We need to know what will change in Salford and Stockport before we arrive at our decision as it could have an impact on the residents of this Borough. 

"More houses may come our way as a result as housing numbers may be displaced.”

Councillor Sykes welcomed the cross-party decision though, adding: “After the many delays, amounting to years, that have already occurred in making the final decision on the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, an extra delay at this point of a few weeks to provide time for the situation in Salford and Stockport to become clearer represents common sense.”

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