‘Masterplan delay won’t stop us from growing’ – leader
TOWN hall chiefs have vowed delays to Greater Manchester’s controversial development blueprint which could see thousands of new homes built in Rochdale will not prevent them from pressing ahead with their own plans to attract more jobs and investment to the borough.
The newly-revised timetable for the Spatial Framework was announced by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority last week.
An updated version of the plan, which is being re-drafted to reflect feedback from a large-scale public consultation that ended earlier this year, will now be published in June 2018.
The original version included plans for more than 15,500 homes in and around Rochdale.
But it was met with widespread opposition, because many of the homes were earmarked for greenbelt land.
Working with other councils, Rochdale put together proposals for the Northern Gateway, a collection of sites along the M62 motorway which will be one of four major growth areas in the region.
The Northern Gateway is the biggest growth opportunity in Greater Manchester and will radically change the economic landscape of the borough, providing a major new growth area in the north of Greater Manchester that will attract national and international businesses.
By extending existing business parks and creating urban extensions, the spatial framework plans could create 19,000 jobs in Rochdale alone.
Council leader Richard Farnell, said the new timetable for the framework would not hinder the council’s own ambitious growth strategy.
He added: “We will ensure that the importance of the Northern Gateway remains a major element of the framework but at the same time we are continuing to work on our own ambitious growth plans. There is still plenty of work being done that is helping to bolster Rochdale’s growing reputation as one of Greater Manchester’s biggest opportunities. We must continue to ensure that message is heard and capitalised on.”
Council chief executive Steve Rumbelow said: “We already have an ambitious core strategy that will help us realise the growth that our borough can achieve without adversely affecting its reputation as one of the greenest and most attractive parts of the Greater Manchester region. We will continue to drive our plans forward and bring more jobs and investment to the borough of Rochdale.”
The council wants to press ahead with the major extensions of south Heywood business park – which is already the subject of increasing interest and demand from companies seeking to take advantage of the borough’s unique position.
Land at Kingsway Business Park – one of the biggest and most successful business parks in the country – is being also being developed.