Latest news with #PfE
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Council bid to back out of housing scheme rejected
A council's bid to back out of a controversial plan to build thousands of new homes across Greater Manchester has been rejected by the government. Councillors in Oldham, which is Labour-led but with no overall control, narrowly voted to withdraw from the Places for Everyone (PfE) housing scheme earlier this year over concerns about building on green belt land. But the government has formally rejected their request, which housing minister Matthew Pennycook said had "no justification". The council's Labour leadership welcomed the move, but Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes said the decision was a "betrayal of democracy". A cross-party group of Liberal Democrat, Conservative and independent councillors had voted for the withdrawal from the scheme in February. The move had to be signed off by the Secretary of State for Housing, Angela Rayner because they had already voted to join in 2024. Under the plan drawn up by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, more than 11,500 homes would be built on sites in Oldham. In a letter to the council, Pennycook, responding on Rayner's behalf, said he could not approve the withdrawal "based on the information provided". He said: "PfE is an example of authorities doing the right thing – adopting a robust local plan only a year ago, which reflects strong cooperation between authorities. "Taking all of the above into account, and given that your letter does not set out a case for revocation, I see no justification to approve your request." The minister said the government was looking for "universal local plan coverage as quickly as possible" from local authorities across the UK. In Oldham, the PfE scheme will see green belt land in Beal Valley, Bottom Field Farm, Broadbent Moss, south of Coal Pit Lane, south of Rosary Road and other locations developed into residential and commercial areas. Oldham Council's deputy Leader Elaine Taylor said: "We're grateful the government have seen through the reckless attempts made by the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives to put our green belt at risk." Meanwhile Sykes said the rejection was a "betrayal that the people of Oldham Borough will not forget or forgive". He said he feared PfE would see the council "forced to provide more land including green belt for development in the very near future". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Council 'not exiting housing scheme', hints Rayner Council votes to leave controversial housing plan Oldham Council Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News
09-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Oldham Council's bid to back out of housing scheme rejected
A council's bid to back out of a controversial plan to build thousands of new homes across Greater Manchester has been rejected by the government. Councillors in Oldham, which is Labour-led but with no overall control, narrowly voted to withdraw from the Places for Everyone (PfE) housing scheme earlier this year over concerns about building on green belt land. But the government has formally rejected their request, which housing minister Matthew Pennycook said had "no justification". The council's Labour leadership welcomed the move, but Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes said the decision was a "betrayal of democracy". A cross-party group of Liberal Democrat, Conservative and independent councillors had voted for the withdrawal from the scheme in February. The move had to be signed off by the Secretary of State for Housing, Angela Rayner because they had already voted to join in the plan drawn up by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, more than 11,500 homes would be built on sites in Oldham. 'Reckless' In a letter to the council, Pennycook, responding on Rayner's behalf, said he could not approve the withdrawal "based on the information provided". He said: "PfE is an example of authorities doing the right thing – adopting a robust local plan only a year ago, which reflects strong cooperation between authorities. "Taking all of the above into account, and given that your letter does not set out a case for revocation, I see no justification to approve your request."The minister said the government was looking for "universal local plan coverage as quickly as possible" from local authorities across the Oldham, the PfE scheme will see green belt land in Beal Valley, Bottom Field Farm, Broadbent Moss, south of Coal Pit Lane, south of Rosary Road and other locations developed into residential and commercial Council's deputy Leader Elaine Taylor said: "We're grateful the government have seen through the reckless attempts made by the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives to put our green belt at risk."Meanwhile Sykes said the rejection was a "betrayal that the people of Oldham Borough will not forget or forgive".He said he feared PfE would see the council "forced to provide more land including green belt for development in the very near future". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Controversial housing plan 'left in uncertainty'
A Greater Manchester town has been "left in uncertainty" since voting to withdraw from a controversial housing scheme, councillors have said. Oldham councillors claim they have heard nothing but "deafening silence" from the government and the mayor of Greater Manchester since voting to leave Places for Everyone (PfE) last month. The housing scheme aims to bring tens of thousands of new homes to nine of the ten Greater Manchester boroughs, but fears the plans will destroy green belt land has sparked fierce opposition from councillors outside the Labour group. Greater Manchester Combined Authority said the mayor had been in touch with Oldham through the council's Labour leader Arooj Shah. A narrow vote on 12 February saw the council executives compelled to write to Secretary of State Angela Rayner, who would need to approve Oldham's exit from the agreement. At the time, mayor and PfE torch-bearer Andy Burnham offered to "reach out to opposition leaders" and "find compromise". But Liberal Democrat and independent leaders confirmed to the Local Democracy Reporting Service that they had heard "absolutely nothing". Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani, Oldham's deputy opposition leader, said: "Deafening silence. No-one's reached out to us." He added: "It's almost as though they're not taking it very seriously. They know we're ready to have a conversation and they have shown no interest whatsoever." Opposition councillors want to negotiate the use of green belt land. Supporters of PfE have always maintained the scheme was "sacrificing a small amount of green belt land in order to protect the rest". But Mr Al-Hamdani is not convinced, noting the Labour government's increased housing targets and changes to how green belt land is designated. "We need houses. But we need houses for social rent in places where there is the infrastructure to cope with it." Greater Manchester Combined Authority argued the mayor had been in touch with Oldham through the council's Labour leader Arooj Shah. A spokesperson said: "The Places for Everyone plan has been agreed by the nine councils and is part of their adopted development strategy. "As a result, it cannot be changed by the mayor or by any of the nine councils. "While the plan cannot be changed, the mayor has been engaging with council leaders, including in Oldham, to discuss maximising the success of our brownfield-first approach and bringing forward land for development." The spokesperson also stressed that by working together, the nine districts had "more certainty" in planning policy, acting as "the best line of defence against costly, unplanned development". This month, Angela Rayner hinted she "wanted Oldham to be a part" of PfE, and said: "I don't think that they'll be pulling out of the plan." But in the intervening weeks, no official decision has been communicated to the council. Councillor Howard Sykes, Lib Dem leader and vocal opponent of PfE said: "I think it's disappointing that the MP responsible has hinted what her response will be but hasn't responded officially." The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has been approached for comment. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Council votes to leave controversial housing plan High Court challenge to region's housing plan Campaigners to sue over plans for Green Belt homes Oldham Council Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News
31-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Controversial Oldham housing plan 'uncertain', councillors say
A Greater Manchester town has been "left in uncertainty" since voting to withdraw from a controversial housing scheme, councillors have councillors claim they have heard nothing but "deafening silence" from the government and the mayor of Greater Manchester since voting to leave Places for Everyone (PfE) last housing scheme aims to bring tens of thousands of new homes to nine of the ten Greater Manchester boroughs, but fears the plans will destroy green belt land has sparked fierce opposition from councillors outside the Labour Manchester Combined Authority said the mayor had been in touch with Oldham through the council's Labour leader Arooj Shah. A narrow vote on 12 February saw the council executives compelled to write to Secretary of State Angela Rayner, who would need to approve Oldham's exit from the the time, mayor and PfE torch-bearer Andy Burnham offered to "reach out to opposition leaders" and "find compromise".But Liberal Democrat and independent leaders confirmed to the Local Democracy Reporting Service that they had heard "absolutely nothing".Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani, Oldham's deputy opposition leader, said: "Deafening silence. No-one's reached out to us."He added: "It's almost as though they're not taking it very seriously. They know we're ready to have a conversation and they have shown no interest whatsoever."Opposition councillors want to negotiate the use of green belt of PfE have always maintained the scheme was "sacrificing a small amount of green belt land in order to protect the rest".But Mr Al-Hamdani is not convinced, noting the Labour government's increased housing targets and changes to how green belt land is designated."We need houses. But we need houses for social rent in places where there is the infrastructure to cope with it."Greater Manchester Combined Authority argued the mayor had been in touch with Oldham through the council's Labour leader Arooj Shah.A spokesperson said: "The Places for Everyone plan has been agreed by the nine councils and is part of their adopted development strategy. "As a result, it cannot be changed by the mayor or by any of the nine councils."While the plan cannot be changed, the mayor has been engaging with council leaders, including in Oldham, to discuss maximising the success of our brownfield-first approach and bringing forward land for development."The spokesperson also stressed that by working together, the nine districts had "more certainty" in planning policy, acting as "the best line of defence against costly, unplanned development".This month, Angela Rayner hinted she "wanted Oldham to be a part" of PfE, and said: "I don't think that they'll be pulling out of the plan."But in the intervening weeks, no official decision has been communicated to the Howard Sykes, Lib Dem leader and vocal opponent of PfE said: "I think it's disappointing that the MP responsible has hinted what her response will be but hasn't responded officially."The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has been approached for comment. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
04-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Oldham Council 'not exiting housing scheme', hints Rayner
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has hinted that Oldham Council will not be pulling out of Greater Manchester's housing plan, even though it has submitted a request to do month the local authority voted to withdraw from the Places for Everyone (PfE) scheme after months of debate about building on green belt land and wrote to Rayner to request to be taken out of the PfE housing blueprint aims to build 170,000 homes - including 11,500 in Oldham - in all of Greater Manchester's 10 boroughs except said: "I want [Oldham Council] to work with us... working together is how we will achieve housing we need across Oldham and across the whole of Greater Manchester." In Oldham, the scheme drawn up by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) would see building on land in Beal Valley, Bottom Field Farm, Broadbent Moss, south of Coal Pit Lane, and south of Rosary PfE has sparked controversy, however, due to the inclusion of green belt land and councillors voted 31-29 to opt out of the scheme. Labour, which lost overall control of the authority in last year's local elections, maintained it would be a mistake to withdraw from PfE. 'Awaiting a response' "I want [Oldham Council] to work with us," Rayner told the BBC."I don't think that they'll be pulling out of that plan. "I know the local area. I think working together is how we will achieve housing that we need across Oldham and across the whole of Greater Manchester."Oldham Council said it was awaiting a response from BBC has asked the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government to confirm when a decision would be made about Oldham's request, but has not yet had a response. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
