Focus on bigger picture

LAST week, I called on all of our city region’s parliamentarians to show political leadership by backing the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.

The plan has a bold vision for our city region, one which will attract investment, boost productivity and create the jobs and homes we need.

Of course I have reservations. I’m keen to ensure infrastructure is built alongside housing, not afterwards, and that a proportion of the new homes built are affordable for first time buyers. But I want to focus on the bigger picture, for me it’s about unleashing opportunity.

Greater Manchester is a fantastic place to live and work. Our city region is world-renowned and is thriving. To ensure this continues we need to grow.

In particular, we need to ensure that Greater Manchester can provide enough homes for future generations to move into and start their own families.

As Rochdale’s MP I not only seek to serve those who voted me into office last year but also young people in our town, who cannot vote. In 10 to 15 years’ time they will be looking for a home in which to live. We cannot let them down and I’m pleased the majority of MPs recognise the need to build more homes to solve our national housing crisis.

I cherish Rochdale borough’s many green and open spaces, the vast majority of which will not be affected by these proposals. It is good to see that many of the development sites in Rochdale will be on brownfield, using up waste land and former industrial sites. I also welcome the plan’s promises to create alternative greenbelt in Rochdale.

No scheme is going to be perfect, and while we scrutinise the draft proposals, I also recognise the need to provide the homes and jobs of the future.