Revised blueprint for jobs and housing in borough

Wiganers have been urged to comment on a major planning blueprint for the borough.
James Grundy MPJames Grundy MP
James Grundy MP

On Friday, the latest draft of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, or GMSF, was published, which sets out the plans Wigan Council has for developing the borough over the coming years.

Under the plans the development on greenfield land south of Pennington has been removed from the GMSF entirely.

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But proposals for a huge expansion of industrial space at Junction 25 of the M6, key to Wigan’s economic growth plans, remain in the latest draft.

Proposals for 600 new homes and 15,000 sq m of employment space at Pocket Nook in Lowton, and the ‘North of Mosley Common’ site, which is proposed to have 1,100 new houses built on it, also remain.

James Grundy, MP for Leigh, said: “These plans will have a massive impact on our communities, and I will be working with community groups and, in the case of Gibfield, my colleague Chris Green, MP for Bolton West and Atherton, to fight for the interests of my constituents regarding these massive developments.”

Meanwhile in Standish, although green belt is being left untouched in the latest version, there are fears that landowners and developers are still queuing up to build on the green fields around the area.

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There are concerns green belt could be built on around Lower Langtree Farm, Pepper Lane, Standish Hall Farm, Upper Wood Farm and Wakefield, as well as off the B5206, Wigan Road and and Worthington.

Residents’ group Standish Voice is urging people to comment on the plan when the next round of consultation starts on December 1.

To read the full plan, search for Greater Manchester Spatial Framework Publication Plan 2020.