Planning guidance for Places for Everyone sites

Guidance on how Bury Council wants to see sites at Elton Reservoir and Walshaw developed is to be consulted on in October.

The Places for Everyone Joint Development Plan, commonly referred to as PfE, identifies the two sites for new housing, but the plan says that any planning applications for development must be in line with a masterplan that has been approved by the council.

The masterplans should take account of all site constraints and characteristics, and properly planned in a manner that includes all the necessary supporting infrastructure, such as new roads, education and healthcare provision, walking and cycling routes and recreation space.

The masterplans will also ensure that wildlife and heritage interests are fully considered, with each site achieving at least a 10% net gain in biodiversity and that there is a strategy in place to deal with any wider environmental issues such as flood risk.

To advise on what the Elton Reservoir and Walshaw masterplans should cover, the council has produced a draft Supplementary Planning Document which was agreed last night (25 Sep) by the council’s cabinet.

There will now be a six-week consultation period starting in mid-October – details will be posted shortly on the council’s website at https://www.bury.gov.uk/planning-building-control/policy-and-projects/planning-policy/supplementary-planning-advice

Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, council leader and cabinet member for strategic growth, said: “Places for Everyone is about much more than houses. It is essential that the infrastructure is there to create a proper community, whether that’s roads or schools.

“These planning guidance documents will set out in detail what developers must include, and pay for, if and when they wish to build new homes.

“I encourage everyone to take part in the consultation when it takes place in October.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 26 September 2024.