Claims by Salford Tories that they were instrumental in the council deferring approval of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework have been branded ‘bizarre’ by the city’s mayor.
Opposition councillors had asked for the controversial housing and jobs masterplan to be called in for further scrutiny at a meeting today, only for it to be cancelled.
Thousands of homes are earmarked across the borough including within the borough's green belt, though the majority of new development would fall within the city’s brownfield sites.
Labour members were due to endorse the GMSF on November 18 but the motion was withdrawn due to a crunch vote being postponed by Stockport council the night before.
The recommendation was based on the endorsement of mayor and council leader Paul Dennett, together with his cabinet, on November 11.
However this was also withdrawn because of ‘timetabling issues’ caused by Bury council cabinet’s decision to withdraw their own GMSF support, according to the decision notice.
Salford’s cabinet approval was opposed by the council’s Conservative group who had their request for a call-in confirmed on the same day as Stockport’s deferred vote.
The Tories have hailed the withdrawal of the ruling group’s support for the GMSF as their ‘first win in the battle to prevent Labour from building on the green belt in Salford’.
In a statement the eight-strong group of councillors said: “The ‘call in' was confirmed on November 17 and on November 18, the city mayor deferred approval of the GMSF by the council citing the postponement by Stockport.
“It was also no doubt because of the call in by the Conservatives which would have prevented it being approved by council.
“Over 27,000 people responded to the first [GMSF] draft followed by over 17,000 on the second draft.
“A large proportion of these respondents were against the proposals to build on green belt land and we would submit therefore that in proceeding to put forward proposals to build on green belt is in complete disregard to the views of residents.”
But the claims have been rebuffed by Coun Dennett, who said the withdrawal had ‘absolutely nothing to do with the call in’.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "I'm quite shocked by these bizarre claims from Salford Conservatives.
“The discussion was withdrawn due to a timing issue following from Bury Council withdrawing their timetabled discussion, creating issues with the time-tabling of planned consultations and making it likely the decision would have to be taken a second time regardless of our actions now.”
In their statement, Conservative councillors reiterated their opposition to two green belt development sites: the 1,400 homes north of Irlam station, and the 700 at Hazelhurst Farm in Worsley.
They also say the housing allocation within the GMSF for Salford is ‘grossly overestimated’ at 28,650, claiming that the actual need is 22,848.
The GMSF proposes that Salford, Manchester and Rochdale use their abundance of brownfield land to absorb the housing demand in outlying boroughs, therefore reducing the need for green belt development elsewhere.
Coun Dennett described the Tories’ stance as ‘hypocritical’ as the allocations ‘have been dedicated by their own government’s policy’.
He said: “At the council, we are caught in a juggling act. On the one hand, there is a huge desire to protect - and where possible to expand our greenbelt.
“On the other, there is huge pressure from national legislation and developers to put forward greenfield sites both to meet housing need figures, and also satisfy market demand for family homes.
"Due to new protections in some areas, Salford's proposals actually give the city a net increase in greenbelt - but there are some greenbelt sites allocated in the current proposals.
“Ultimately - we have to get the balance right between our legal obligations to facilitate balanced housing growth, and our desire to tackle the housing and homelessness crisis, whilst ensuring our precious green space is protected.”
