Court Challenge for 15-Year Housing Development Plan
In a significant development, a High Court challenge has been initiated against a plan to construct 115,000 new homes in Greater Manchester, known as Mayor Andy Burnham's Places for Everyone (PfE) plan. The legal battle, which will involve Greater Manchester's Combined Authority (GMCA), nine councils, and the government's planning inspectorate, is set to determine the future of this ambitious housing project.
The PfE plan, which was approved by nine of the city's councils in 2024, aims to build 115,000 new properties using a 'brownfield land first' approach, although some will go on green belt land. The campaign group, Save Greater Manchester's Green Belt, has expressed its opposition to the inclusion of green belt allocations in the PfE plan, considering it unnecessary, inappropriate, and a betrayal of future generations due to its impact on land that should support climate mitigation, nature's recovery, and food security.
Despite the plans being in development since 2014, the judicial review was initiated, with Judge Mr Justice Fordham ruling that the legal challenge can proceed. The High Court battle will delve into the specifics of the legal proceedings, timeline, and implications, areas where no detailed publicly available information was found in the initial search results.
While related Greater Manchester development initiatives and legal actions in the housing and regeneration sectors were discovered, none directly reference a High Court challenge concerning the 115,000 homes plan. For instance, a 2025 document references legal actions related to affordable housing obligations in Manchester, but it does not mention a High Court challenge or specifics about the 115,000 homes plan.
The GMCA is progressing major regeneration projects, including the designation of Mayoral Development Zones such as the Western Gateway and the Old Trafford Regeneration area, emphasising strategic growth, investment, and employment benefits. However, no legal disputes or court challenges in these documents were noted.
Environmental planning updates also focus on biodiversity net gain and nature recovery strategies relevant to development policies but do not indicate any court cases on housing development plans. Other results cover general legislation in Massachusetts or local news unrelated to this issue.
As the High Court battle unfolds, it is advisable for those seeking a comprehensive update on this case to consult the Greater Manchester Combined Authority's latest planning and legal communications or legal databases for detailed and recent information.
- The legal challenge, centered around Mayor Andy Burnham's Places for Everyone (PfE) plan, which includes a controversy over the inclusion of green belt land for housing development, is currently being addressed in the High Court.
- The PfE plan, designed to construct 115,000 new properties through a 'brownfield land first' approach, has garnered opposition from the campaign group, Save Greater Manchester's Green Belt, due to its potential impact on climate mitigation, nature's recovery, and food security.
- The outcome of this High Court case may significantly influence housing-market trends and real-estate investments in Greater Manchester, given its potential implications on future housing development plans and regulations.
