LUC led this comprehensive study on behalf of the 10 authorities of Greater Manchester, assessing how the Green Belt performs against the Green Belt purposes set out in the National Planning Policy Framework.

This assessment fed into the preparation of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF), which is the strategic plan that will guide Manchester’s growth for the next 20 years. A total of 227,200 new homes and 6.45 million m2 of employment space are proposed across the city from 2015 to 2035. Removal of land from the Green Belt is proposed for the delivery of c.65,000 homes, a reduction in designated Green Belt of 8.2%. 43% of Greater Manchester will remain as Green Belt.

Our involvement in Green Belt policy development is unparalleled, since our 2003 Green Belt and Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) study for the London Planning Advisory Committee, which informed strategic planning guidance. We’ve advised developers across the country on Green Belt development, and carried out independent Green Belt assessments for dozens of local authorities including the five Oxfordshire local authorities and a consortium of six authorities in the West Midlands.

Our bespoke Green Belt database facilitates all our Green Belt work, ensuring data collection, analysis and presentation is as efficient and cost-effective as possible for our clients.