Greater Manchester residents and businesses can now have their
say on two important consultations, helping to protect some of
the most important habitat sites in and around Greater
Manchester.
Places for Everyone is a comprehensive joint plan which
identifies areas for new homes, jobs and infrastructure in the
nine boroughs, while protecting environmental assets and guarding
against the risk of unplanned development. Earlier this year the
Places for Everyone plan was adopted by Bolton, Bury, Manchester,
Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Tameside, Trafford, and Wigan.
To support the Places for Everyone plan, the Greater Manchester
Combined Authority (GMCA), in partnership with the nine local
authorities, is now seeking views on two documents that will
provide developers with clear advice and guidance on development
proposals to ensure the two European-designated habitat sites are
protected.
The consultations will run for six weeks until Thursday 12
December. For more information and to have your say,
visit www.gmconsult.org
South Pennine Moors
Much of the moorland landscape on the edge of Greater Manchester
is an internationally important habitat for birds. This moorland
habitat supports populations of birds including merlins, golden
plovers and short-eared owls, and a range of other species. The
South Pennine Moors contains both a European Special Area of
Conservation and two Special Protection Areas.
The GMCA wants to ensure new homes and businesses closest to the
South Pennine Moors, in the boroughs of Oldham, Rochdale and
Tameside, have the right safeguards in place to avoid harm to
these internationally important habitats.
Holcroft Moss
The lowland landscape between Greater Manchester and Merseyside
covers areas of internationally important peat bog habitats that
have developed over thousands of years. As well as being
important habitats for wildlife, peatlands can store carbon and
help with flood risk management.
Much of this lowland bog habitat has been degraded by centuries
of farming and peat cutting. Despite this, some areas of bog have
the potential to be restored to active, functioning peat bogs –
including the Holcroft Moss site in Warrington, which is also
designated as a European Special Area of Conservation
Holcroft Moss is next to the M62 motorway, and nitrogen emissions
from vehicles could slow the restoration of the peat bog habitat.
The nine Places for Everyone local authorities, together with
Warrington Borough Council, are proposing a package of
restoration measures to improve the resilience of the peat
habitat to air pollution.
Paul Dennett, City Mayor of Salford and Greater
Manchester Lead for Places for Everyone,
said: “Places for Everyone is our plan to improve
employment opportunities for our communities, deliver the homes
that Greater Manchester needs, revitalise our town centres, and
rejuvenate our green spaces. It's also our best defence against
costly unplanned development.
“These documents will help us to ensure that, through Places for
Everyone, the right safeguards are in place to protect our
natural environment, including the most important habitats in and
around the city region.
“This is your chance to get involved and help shape the future of
sustainable development in Greater Manchester.”
Notes to editors
For more information about the Supplementary Planning Documents
that relate to Holcroft Moss and the South Pennine Moors, visit
the GMCA website: Joint Supplementary
Planning Documents - Greater Manchester Combined Authority
For more information about the Places for Everyone plan, visit
the GMCA website: Places For Everyone -
Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
