Decision details

The Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Growth presented the report which outlined the part two Local Plan. Members were informed that Places for Everyone (PfE) is a part one plan that covers nine of the ten Greater Manchester districts. Places for Everyone was adopted in March 2024 and provides the strategic framework within which the participating districts need to develop their own part two Local Plans. The part two Local Plan provides a more detailed set of locally specific planning policies to complement the strategic policies within Places for Everyone. Once adopted, Bury’s Local Plan policies will replace the saved policies in the Unitary Development Plan and will sit alongside Places for Everyone and the joint Greater Manchester Minerals and Waste Plans in forming Bury’s wider development plan.

Councillor Smith sought clarity regarding ‘house in multiple occupation’ properties and what considered to be an unacceptable concentration of these properties. In response the Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Growth advised this guidance will allow for more informed decisions and understandings regarding an unacceptable level of concentration. In addition Cris Logue Assistant Director of Strategy, Planning & Development confirmed that each area in the consultation will include a topic paper.

The Leader wished to place on record a thanks to Cris Logue, Dave Marno and their teams for preparing the documents which demonstrate a large piece of work that has been undertaken.

Decision:

The Cabinet:

1.    Approved the draft Bury Local Plan, draft Policies Map and supporting background documents for an eight-week public consultation commencing no earlier than 17 March 2025;

2.    Delegated approval to the Executive Director of Place to make minor non-material editorial amendments to the draft Local Plan before consultation commences.

Reason for the decision:

To ensure that stakeholders have an opportunity to have their say on the draft Bury Local Plan.

Other options considered and rejected:

To not approve the Local Plan for consultation - This would prevent stakeholders commenting on the draft Local Plan and would result in the future adoption of the document being contrary to planning regulations.