To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 13 September 2023.

Decision

The Executive approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting on 13 September 2023.

Report of the Strategic Director (Growth and Development) attached

Due to the large sizes of the various appendices these will be viewable on the Council’s website (link address below) and paper copy - on request.

https://democracy.manchester.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=147&MId=4602&Ver=4

The Executive considered a report of the Strategic Director (Growth and Development), which provided an update on the progress of Places for Everyone Plan (a Joint Development Plan Document for nine Greater Manchester Local Authorities (Places for Everyone Plan)) and also sought approval for proposed modifications to the plan.

The report provided contextual detail as to how the proposals had reached their current iteration

The Executive Member for Housing and Development advised that whilst there were a number of proposed modifications, they did not change the overall vision, objectives and spatial strategy of the Plan.  Inspectors had considered that the proposed modification to the Plan period were necessary to make the plan sound to ensure that, in line with Government Policy, the PfE strategic policies looked ahead over a minimum 15 year period from adoption and thus provided a sufficient policy framework for the individual local plans which would follow on from the PfE’s adoption.

The Plan continued to feature specific policies and an allocation that directly related to Manchester included:-

·                Delivery of a minimum of around 60,000 new homes; and over 2 million square metres of office floorspace in Manchester by 2039;

·                Policies to deliver growth and regeneration across the City

·                Seeking to achieve a carbon neutral city no later than 2038;

·                Inclusion of the requirement to deliver biodiversity net gain in line with national policy;

·                Policies across a range of other themes including flood risk, water resources, air quality, economic and housing matters, heritage, culture, education and skills, health, and sport and recreation; and

·                Specific allocation identified in the plan for Manchester for new jobs at Wythenshawe Hospital.

It was noted that once the Places for Everyone Plan was adopted it would form part of Manchester’s development plan.  As such Manchester’s local Plan would need to be consistent with it and any neighbourhood plans would need to be in general conformity with the strategic policies.

Councillor Leech sought clarification in relation to the proposals for additional office floor space, Brownfield land preference within urban areas and the limited release of GreenBelt for both housing and employment.

Decisions

The Executive:-

(1)       Note progress made in respect of the Places for Everyone Plan (PfE).

(2)       Agree that the PfE modifications (Main, Additional and those relating to the policies map), and associated supporting background documents be subject to a period of representations for a period of 8 weeks commencing no earlier than 9 October 2023.

(3)       Agree the next steps for the production of the PfE Plan (as detailed in section 12 of the report).