On 2nd of November 2020, Trafford Council’s Labour-led Executive took the decision to approve the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) and approve the commencement of Labour’s GMSF consultation. The GMSF is a strategic land allocation plan led by the Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester and other council leaders and will result in the release of Green Belt land for residential and industrial development across Trafford and Greater Manchester.

Conservatives asked for the GMSF to be subject to further scrutiny as they believe that the GMSF as it stands does not take into account the impact of Covid-19 on working patterns and demand for office space and that alternative options to the GMSF were not given sufficient consideration. The Labour dominated Scrutiny Committee turned down the request by claiming that the topics had been discussed in the Executive meeting and that was sufficient scrutiny.

Cllr. Dave Morgan, Shadow Executive Member at the Council for Housing and Regeneration said “It’s appalling that Labour is denying proper scrutiny of this hugely important proposal which would result in 160 hectare loss of green belt land at Carrington and 100 hectare loss at Timperley/Hale Barns. Other councils in Greater Manchester are subjecting the GMSF to additional scrutiny, so why is democracy being denied by Labour-run Trafford Council? What have Labour in Trafford and the Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester got to hide?”