The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in December made a statement in the House of Commons in relation to an update on the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.

In this statement the Secretary of State confirmed that whilst he will maintain a method for calculating he believes that the plan-making process for housing has to start with a number, this number should be an advisory starting point, a guide from that is not mandatory.

The Secretary of State further added that it will be up to Local Authorities, working with their communities, to determine how many homes can actually be built, taking into account what should be protected in each area - be that our precious green belt or national parks. It will be down to local authorities to determine how many homes can be built, taking into many factors, including protecting our precious Green Belt.

The Secretary of State further outlined how those local authorities with local plans at an advanced stage of preparation who will not benefit from these provisions can take advantage of transitional arrangements to produce plans that are compliant with the new guidance. Although this Council is part of the Places for Everyone submission, we have no adopted local plan. As such the housing need calculation made within Places for Everyone is now obsolete and not in line with national guidance. As such it is clear that Trafford’s local plan be produced in line with the new national guidance. Bearing in mind the clarification outlined in the Secretary of State’s statement in the House of Commons;

This Council resolves to;

-         To withdraw Trafford Council from the Greater Manchester “Places for Everyone” Plan with an immediate priority.

-         Develop a joint approach to calculating housing need though community consultation and a reinforced brownfield first policy.

-         Make a public commitment to protect the Borough’s precious Green Belt by removing the Timperley Wedge and Carrington Moss sites from any future local plan.

It was moved and seconded that:

“The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in December made a statement in the House of Commons in relation to an update on the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.

In this statement the Secretary of State confirmed that whilst he will maintain a method for calculating he believes that the plan-making process for housing has to start with a number, this number should be an advisory starting point, a guide from that is not mandatory.

The Secretary of State further added that it will be up to Local Authorities, working with their communities, to determine how many homes can actually be built, taking into account what should be protected in each area - be that our precious green belt or national parks. It will be down to local authorities to determine how many homes can be built, taking into many factors, including protecting our precious Green Belt.

The Secretary of State further outlined how those local authorities with local plans at an advanced stage of preparation who will not benefit from these provisions can take advantage of transitional arrangements to produce plans that are compliant with the new guidance. Although this Council is part of the Places for Everyone submission, we have no adopted local plan. As such the housing need calculation made within Places for Everyone is now obsolete and not in line with national guidance. As such it is clear that Trafford’s local plan be produced in line with the new national guidance. Bearing in mind the clarification outlined in the Secretary of State’s statement in the House of Commons;

This Council resolves to;

-     To withdraw Trafford Council from the Greater Manchester “Places for Everyone” Plan with an immediate priority.

-     Develop a joint approach to calculating housing need though community consultation and a reinforced brownfield first policy.

-     Make a public commitment to protect the Borough’s precious Green Belt by removing the Timperley Wedge and Carrington Moss sites from any future local plan.”

It was moved and seconded as an amendment that:

This Council believes that:

Tackling the housing crisis is essential in order to provide fairer futures for the next generation.

A plan that works for all of Trafford Borough is best developed in Trafford Borough, by this Council and in consultation with the people we represent.

Every part of the borough should be afforded fair and equal treatment when it comes to providing access to nature and wildlife and protecting what remains of our green spaces.

This Council recognises:

That Trafford Council has recently focussed substantial energy on preserving green spaces in the north of the borough, and now will seek to find similar ways to protect those in the south of the borough.

The site of the former municipal golf-course William Wroe - which spans both sides of the Manchester to Liverpool railway in Flixton - was removed from the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (the predecessor to Places for Everyone) and now enjoys ‘field of trust’ status. 

The lengthy work which would be required to submit all such green spaces to Fields of Trust; and agrees to find alternative ways to protect vulnerable green space in the south of the borough from unnecessary development.

Plans to develop Timperley Wedge would remove the last large open green space between the already heavily developed urban areas of Timperley and Hale Barns, thus removing the ‘green lung’ between those communities and the airport.

The density of the housing means the current ‘Timperley Ward’ has one of the lowest percentages of green space of any ward in Trafford and the further increase in density resulting from building large numbers of houses and office buildings on Timperley Wedge would be detrimental to the area.

Council Officers have confirmed that there is sufficient brownfield space in Trafford for more than 16,400 dwellings.  A ‘brownfield first’ approach can provide Trafford with the homes it needs and should be pursued more vigorously.

That the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in December made a statement in the House of Commons in relation to an update  government U-turn on the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill. 

In this statement the Secretary of State confirmed that whilst he will maintain a method for calculating he believes that the plan-making process for housing has to start with a number, this number should be an advisory starting point, a guide from that is not mandatory.

The Secretary of State further added that it will be up to Local Authorities, working with their communities, to determine how many homes can actually be built, taking into account what should be protected in each area - be that our precious green belt or national parks. It will be down to local authorities to determine how many homes can be built, taking into many factors, including protecting our precious Green Belt.

The Secretary of State further outlined how those local authorities with local plans at an advanced stage of preparation who will not benefit from these provisions can take advantage of transitional arrangements to produce plans that are compliant with the new guidance.

Although this Council is part of the Places for Everyone submission, we have no adopted local plan. As such the housing need calculation made within Places for Everyone is now obsolete and not in line with national guidance. As such it is clear that Trafford’s local plan be produced in line with the new national guidance. Bearing in mind the clarification outlined in the Secretary of State’s statement U-turnin the House of Commons.

This Council resolves to:

-    To withdraw Trafford Council from the Greater Manchester “Places for Everyone” Plan with an immediate priority.

-     Develop a joint approach to calculating housing need though community consultation and a reinforced brownfield first policy.

-     Make a public commitment to protect the Borough’s precious Green Belt by removing the Timperley Wedge and Carrington Moss sites from any future local plan.”

(Note: During the debate on the amendment, the time being 8:07 p.m., the Mayor indicated that speeches on this matter would now be limited to a maximum of one minute 30 seconds per speaker.)

Following a debate on the matter, the amendment was put to the vote and declared lost. The Substantive Motion was then put to the vote and was also declared lost.