Neil Wilby Media

The Save Greater Manchester’s Green Belt (SGMGB) Group Management Committee has now been forced to consider legal action to address the unnecessary and devastating impact to be caused by the immediate release of over 2,000 hectares of Green Belt in the Region, if the Mayor’s flagship Places for Everyone Plan (PfE) is formally adopted. 

The Group has instructed specialist solicitors, Leigh Day, to write to the nine participating Councils asking them to delay the adoption of the Plan until legal proceedings conclude.

SGMGB believe there are several strong legal grounds under which PfE can be legally challenged but will need YOUR help to raise the funding required to continue with the case. 

The Group will be arranging a number of fundraising activities over the coming months but, in the meantime, would welcome a small donation which can be made directly to the SGMGB Bank Account: Save Greater Manchester’s Green Belt 08-92-99, Account Number 65826410). Or, alternatively, you can use Paypal at this weblink:

The Group says: “Please encourage others to donate a small amount using social media, emails and in person requests.  It would also be really helpful if you can like and share our posts on social media to ensure they reach the widest possible audience.

“We note that Stockport Council continues to advocate for no Green Belt release, confirming, within their recent Development Plan Working Party Meeting (4:33), that a truly brownfield preference policy is a brownfield only policy! 

“It is a great pity that the other boroughs in Greater Manchester did not consider adopting a similar stance – instead they have developed a Green Belt First Plan!”

Save Greater Manchester’s Green Belt is an umbrella group where greenspace groups across GM come together, share ideas, plan campaigns for engagement with their local communities and to lobby elected representatives. They are a true grassroots movement.

Their mantra is “stronger together”.

A previous, and highly forensic, Neil Wilby Media article on the Greater Manchester Green Belt topic can be read here. Very considerable assistance in compiling that report was received from Oldham Green Belt campaigner, Matthew Broadbent, who has also provided this UPDATE:

“SGMGB, in fact, had a two-hour meeting with Leigh Day today and they confirmed we have valid grounds for a legal challenge. They are going to begin drafting them.

“Leigh Day, incidentally, was behind the successful challenge to the Leeds Local Plan, brought by the Aireborough Forum (read more here): Obviously, just because they won in Leeds doesn’t mean we will win, but they know what they are doing.”

Page last updated: Wednesday 20th March, 2024 at 0625 hours

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Picture credit: SGMGB

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